Sarah Crane Murdoch (Reporter)

Carissa had asked for 40 years with 20 suspended, but the plea offer Sonny agreed to was 30 years with 20 suspended. What this meant was that Sonny would spend a maximum of 10 years in prison, and she could still request parole and get out earlier.

To prevent that, Krista and Kevin could ask the judge for a parole restriction at Sunny's sentencing hearing, make it so that Sunny'd have to stay in prison the full 10 years. That way they wouldn't have to keep returning to court to make their case every time she applied for parole. Or they could try to get the judge to reject the plea deal and send it back to trial.

To prevent that, Krista and Kevin could ask the judge for a parole restriction at Sunny's sentencing hearing, make it so that Sunny'd have to stay in prison the full 10 years. That way they wouldn't have to keep returning to court to make their case every time she applied for parole. Or they could try to get the judge to reject the plea deal and send it back to trial.

To prevent that, Krista and Kevin could ask the judge for a parole restriction at Sunny's sentencing hearing, make it so that Sunny'd have to stay in prison the full 10 years. That way they wouldn't have to keep returning to court to make their case every time she applied for parole. Or they could try to get the judge to reject the plea deal and send it back to trial.

Sonny's sentencing hearing was on a snowy morning this past February. Micah's family and supporters gathered in front of the Lake County Courthouse to put up a red teepee. This was almost two years after Micah was killed. Carissa handed out Micah Matters t-shirts. You got your shirts right here.

Sonny's sentencing hearing was on a snowy morning this past February. Micah's family and supporters gathered in front of the Lake County Courthouse to put up a red teepee. This was almost two years after Micah was killed. Carissa handed out Micah Matters t-shirts. You got your shirts right here.

Sonny's sentencing hearing was on a snowy morning this past February. Micah's family and supporters gathered in front of the Lake County Courthouse to put up a red teepee. This was almost two years after Micah was killed. Carissa handed out Micah Matters t-shirts. You got your shirts right here.

Yeah, hey, Lisa. Thanks for coming. Kevin hadn't shown up yet, and Carissa kept looking around for him. Just waiting for Kevin to bring the extension cords for the hot chocolate. They'd been fighting. Kevin still didn't want the plea deal. He didn't want to endorse the state's narrative that they were getting justice. But Carissa was exhausted. She wanted it all to be over.

Yeah, hey, Lisa. Thanks for coming. Kevin hadn't shown up yet, and Carissa kept looking around for him. Just waiting for Kevin to bring the extension cords for the hot chocolate. They'd been fighting. Kevin still didn't want the plea deal. He didn't want to endorse the state's narrative that they were getting justice. But Carissa was exhausted. She wanted it all to be over.

Yeah, hey, Lisa. Thanks for coming. Kevin hadn't shown up yet, and Carissa kept looking around for him. Just waiting for Kevin to bring the extension cords for the hot chocolate. They'd been fighting. Kevin still didn't want the plea deal. He didn't want to endorse the state's narrative that they were getting justice. But Carissa was exhausted. She wanted it all to be over.

She started venting to a friend.

She started venting to a friend.

She started venting to a friend.

Selfish. Kevin still hadn't arrived when the sentencing hearing was about to start.

Selfish. Kevin still hadn't arrived when the sentencing hearing was about to start.

Selfish. Kevin still hadn't arrived when the sentencing hearing was about to start.

Hope Kevin's not too late. The room was packed, most of them here for Micah. Micah's young cousins were curled up on their puffy jackets on the floor. Finally, Kevin arrived. Dirty boots, jeans, hoodie. A screen to the judge's right rotated through portraits of Micah and candid family photos. One by one, the judge called her relatives up to speak. They told stories about Micah.

Hope Kevin's not too late. The room was packed, most of them here for Micah. Micah's young cousins were curled up on their puffy jackets on the floor. Finally, Kevin arrived. Dirty boots, jeans, hoodie. A screen to the judge's right rotated through portraits of Micah and candid family photos. One by one, the judge called her relatives up to speak. They told stories about Micah.

Hope Kevin's not too late. The room was packed, most of them here for Micah. Micah's young cousins were curled up on their puffy jackets on the floor. Finally, Kevin arrived. Dirty boots, jeans, hoodie. A screen to the judge's right rotated through portraits of Micah and candid family photos. One by one, the judge called her relatives up to speak. They told stories about Micah.

Her great-aunt Iris named eight of her own relatives who have been killed on roads in Montana. I got the sense of how relentless grief can be when new cases are opening before old ones even close. Finally, it was Kevin's turn.