Judge denies lower bail

Judge Deborah “Kim” Christopher denied a request to lower bail for homicide suspect Danielle Wood on Tuesday. Wood appeared at the Sanders County Courthouse with her attorneys, Eldena Bear Don’t Walk and Ashley Morigeau.

Wood is charged with deliberate homicide in the May 2, 2018, death of Thompson Falls resident Matt LaFriniere, with whom Wood had a child. Wood pleaded not guilty to the charge earlier this year.

Bear Don’t Walk had asked the court to reduce Wood’s bond to $100,000. She stated that Wood was not a flight risk. “She did not flee during the 10-month investigation,” Bear Don’t Walk said, adding that Wood had a job to go back to as a Pampered Chef consultant.

Prosecutors from the U.S. Attorney’s Office called LaFriniere’s father, George, to testify. George LaFriniere stated that his family has “a number of fears” and opposed the reduction in bond. “We fear she might harm family members. We fear she might run. Her making bond would most likely disrupt her daughter’s life,” LaFriniere said.

Mark Strangio, a criminal investigator for the State of Montana, has been assigned to the case since the initial investigation and testified that evidence suggests the murder was premeditated. He noted that the cause of death was gunshot wounds. Strangio said that during a search of Wood’s home on May 8, 2018, a receipt for the purchase of a .38 revolver and ammunition was discovered and stated that forensic analysis suggests one of the bullets found in LaFriniere’s body was from a .38. “The gun has not been recovered,” Strangio said. He noted that a gun was purchased on March 15, 2018, and that the investigation showed a “burner phone” and Wood’s personal phone were in close proximity the day of the homicide.

“We believe the motive is child custody,” Strangio told the court on Tuesday. He said that Wood was not a suspect early on, but in searching her house, investigators found cryptic, unexplained writing on the master bedroom bathroom mirror that read “You are worth it! She will be home soon. For good.” Strangio said he didn’t know what it meant at the time, “but evidence clearly suggested to law enforcement that this murder was the result of a contentious custody dispute.”

“This was an unpredictable crime. An impulsive crime,” Strangio said, adding that he was concerned about a potential reduction in bail “based on the premeditation of this case alone. It goes to show at what great lengths this defendant went to plan this crime.”

Daniel Guzynski with the U.S. Attorney’s Office argued Tuesday that Wood “has nothing to lose,” saying that she could leave if her bail was lowered.

“She has everything to lose,” Bear Don’t Walk responded. “She will do whatever the court asks her to do. She has ties here. She has a very strong community with her church. She has a business. She has been incarcerated for many months with no problems in jail.”

In making her decision to keep bail for Wood at $1 million, Judge Christopher said she had significant concern with the alleged premeditation in the case and because of the serious nature of the charges. “My biggest concern is the safety of the child, of the community and the safety of the defendant,” Judge Christopher stated.

Wood was accompanied to court by a Lake County Sheriff’s officer and is being held in the Lake County Jail.