Former DCI agent testifies in Thompson Falls murder trial

The murder trial of former Thompson Falls resident Danielle Wood continued Thursday in Thompson Falls.

Mark Hilyard, who was with the state Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) at the time Thompson Falls resident Matthew LaFriniere was found dead at his home near Thompson Falls, testified in court Thursday morning. Hilyard said he and two other DCI agents arrived after 9 p.m. on May 3, 2018, at the scene where Matthew LaFriniere's body was found. Hilyard stated that soon after they arrived, he realized they had a "who done it" on their hands, which he described as a death case where the killer was not present, and so he believed the situation had become far more dangerous. "Someone could do it again," Hilyard said in court Thursday, adding that it was "quite a danger to the community."

Hilyard testified that he contacted Verizon to get information regarding the phone found at the crime scene. He said he found text messages sent to the phone, found to be owned by the victim, Matthew LaFriniere, from a number ending in 0063. The same number sent messages to Wood's phone, Hilyard testified.

During Hilyard's testimony, the state displayed more than 70 photographs of the crime scene to the court, which Hilyard detailed. Hilyard, who is no longer with DCI, testified that investigators as the scene wore suits to prevent them from contaminating the scene and explained that evidence was collected and items preserved for forensic pathologists at the state's crime lab in Missoula.

Wood is charged with one count of deliberate homicide in the death of LaFriniere. She was arrested in March 2019. The trial is being held in 20th District Judicial Court before Judge Deborah "Kim" Christopher. Entrance into the courtroom is limited to comply with COVID-19 restrictions. The public can view the trial online via Zoom: https://mt-gov.zoom.us/j/91085634676?pwd=YlArdkdlL0h2dkQ0bnNUOVYvSGJSUT09. Enter the passcode: 606564.