By Martin J. Kidston
Police arrested two 18 year-old men and a 15 year-old girl on Friday in connection with the shooting deaths of Kristi Walker and Kevin Caplette that occurred in Havre last week.
At 10:10 p.m. Friday, Great Falls police arrested Jacob Gary Spang and Reid Mitchell Danell on the charges of deliberate homicide at the Highwood Motel in Great Falls. Both men are from Havre and were arrested without incident. They are being held without bond in the Cascade County Jail pending their arraignment on Monday morning.
The 15-year-old juvenile, whose name was not released, appeared in front of a youth court judge in Havre Monday morning and was ordered to be transported and held at the regional detention center in Great Falls.
Hill County Attorney David Rice said the girl is considered an accomplice to the crime and is being held for accountability for the facilitation of murder and tampering with evidence.
Investigators found the bodies of Walker and Caplette around noon last Thursday after receiving a 911 phone call by one of the victims roommates. Police found the bodies in separate parts of the home located at 1231 6th St. in Havre. Walker and Caplette were the victims of multiple gunshot wounds.
Havre Assistant Police Chief Kevin Olson said the three suspects, Spang, Danell and the juvenile girl, were allegedly friends with the victims, and were three of possibly 20 people to have attended a social function at the home just hours prior to the slayings.
There was a multitude of individuals who were coming and going from the house throughout the night, and we believe the suspects in question were there sometime between 4 and 6 a.m., Olson said, denying comment on further evidence. Weve said all along that the last people to leave the residence were likely the ones we were looking for.
Based on the evidence, Rice prepared two arrest warrants on Friday for Spang and Danell. The warrants were issued by Havre City Court Judge Joyce Perszyk. The two men are expected to be transported to Hill County later this week where they will gain representation and face formal charges.
Court records show that in May of 1998, Jacob Spang was charged with felony burglary, misdemeanor theft and obstructing a peace officer. However, all charges were eventually dismissed. Later, in Jan. of 1999, Spang was charged with felony assault and disorderly conduct. The charges were later amended to misdemeanor family assault. He was ordered to attend anger management classes and placed on probation.
Court records also show that Jacob Spang and Westy Spang assaulted Charlie Caplette with a television and folding chair in the January incident. One month later, Westy Spang was found shot to death on the Rocky Boy Indian Reservation.
Charlie Caplette is the brother of shooting victim Kevin Caplette, while the suspect in Thursdays shooting, Jacob Spang, is the brother of Westy Spang, whose murder has not been solved.
No connections have been made between the incidents and the FBI is continuing its investigation.
Walker and Kevin Caplettes autopsy results are expected to be released this afternoon.
