Sarah Crane Murdoch (Reporter)

It felt to Bonnie like LaPaka had written her daughter off. She obsessed over the particulars of her daughter's case. She wanted to rent a billboard on the highway and brainstormed messages like, how hard is it to gather evidence? And whose reservation is this? And who is protecting who? But she didn't have money for a billboard. She checked herself into the mental health department at a hospital.

It felt to Bonnie like LaPaka had written her daughter off. She obsessed over the particulars of her daughter's case. She wanted to rent a billboard on the highway and brainstormed messages like, how hard is it to gather evidence? And whose reservation is this? And who is protecting who? But she didn't have money for a billboard. She checked herself into the mental health department at a hospital.

I talked to another mother, Trisha Finley. Her son, Aiden, was killed in a hit and run in 2018. She says it was almost six years before anyone in law enforcement shared anything with her about her son's case. The county attorney, Lipaka, invited her to his office. A witness to Aiden's death had come forward and named the driver, but there was a problem.

I talked to another mother, Trisha Finley. Her son, Aiden, was killed in a hit and run in 2018. She says it was almost six years before anyone in law enforcement shared anything with her about her son's case. The county attorney, Lipaka, invited her to his office. A witness to Aiden's death had come forward and named the driver, but there was a problem.

I talked to another mother, Trisha Finley. Her son, Aiden, was killed in a hit and run in 2018. She says it was almost six years before anyone in law enforcement shared anything with her about her son's case. The county attorney, Lipaka, invited her to his office. A witness to Aiden's death had come forward and named the driver, but there was a problem.

Bieber had taken four months to locate the driver and get his confession. During that time, the statute of limitations had passed.

Bieber had taken four months to locate the driver and get his confession. During that time, the statute of limitations had passed.

Bieber had taken four months to locate the driver and get his confession. During that time, the statute of limitations had passed.

The driver did get away with it. LaPaka couldn't find a way to charge the case. I reached out to Montana Highway Patrol about Bonnie and Trish's cases, but they declined to answer my questions. There were two harms when Micah was killed. The first, when she was hit. The second, when she was left on the side of the road to die alone.

The driver did get away with it. LaPaka couldn't find a way to charge the case. I reached out to Montana Highway Patrol about Bonnie and Trish's cases, but they declined to answer my questions. There were two harms when Micah was killed. The first, when she was hit. The second, when she was left on the side of the road to die alone.

The driver did get away with it. LaPaka couldn't find a way to charge the case. I reached out to Montana Highway Patrol about Bonnie and Trish's cases, but they declined to answer my questions. There were two harms when Micah was killed. The first, when she was hit. The second, when she was left on the side of the road to die alone.

Nationally, Native pedestrians are six times likelier to be killed in a hit-and-run than white pedestrians. I tried to figure out why. I learned that when states were building their highway systems in the 1920s and 30s, they put them through reservations instead of around them, because if they ran through reservations, the federal government had to pick up the tab.

Nationally, Native pedestrians are six times likelier to be killed in a hit-and-run than white pedestrians. I tried to figure out why. I learned that when states were building their highway systems in the 1920s and 30s, they put them through reservations instead of around them, because if they ran through reservations, the federal government had to pick up the tab.

Nationally, Native pedestrians are six times likelier to be killed in a hit-and-run than white pedestrians. I tried to figure out why. I learned that when states were building their highway systems in the 1920s and 30s, they put them through reservations instead of around them, because if they ran through reservations, the federal government had to pick up the tab.

Fewer Native people own cars, so they're more likely to be walking along these roads. They're dying where there are no sidewalks, no street lamps. In Montana, Native pedestrians make up more than half of hit-and-run fatalities, even though they're just 8% of the population. And what happens to the drivers?

Fewer Native people own cars, so they're more likely to be walking along these roads. They're dying where there are no sidewalks, no street lamps. In Montana, Native pedestrians make up more than half of hit-and-run fatalities, even though they're just 8% of the population. And what happens to the drivers?

Fewer Native people own cars, so they're more likely to be walking along these roads. They're dying where there are no sidewalks, no street lamps. In Montana, Native pedestrians make up more than half of hit-and-run fatalities, even though they're just 8% of the population. And what happens to the drivers?

I scoured Montana newspapers and court records, trying to figure out which cases got prosecuted. I calculated that between 2011 and 2022, in cases where the victim was native, it was much less likely for the drivers to be found. And when they were found, their sentences were much lighter.

I scoured Montana newspapers and court records, trying to figure out which cases got prosecuted. I calculated that between 2011 and 2022, in cases where the victim was native, it was much less likely for the drivers to be found. And when they were found, their sentences were much lighter.

I scoured Montana newspapers and court records, trying to figure out which cases got prosecuted. I calculated that between 2011 and 2022, in cases where the victim was native, it was much less likely for the drivers to be found. And when they were found, their sentences were much lighter.