Sarah Crane Murdoch (Reporter)

He told me he never found anything that proved Sunny hit Micah because she was Native. He couldn't verify the rumor that Sunny had come to the reservation to kill an Indian. so he couldn't charge her with a hate crime. I got the sense that he wanted to do a good job for Micah's family. The first time we met, I was struck by his genuine warmth whenever he talked about Micah.

He told me he never found anything that proved Sunny hit Micah because she was Native. He couldn't verify the rumor that Sunny had come to the reservation to kill an Indian. so he couldn't charge her with a hate crime. I got the sense that he wanted to do a good job for Micah's family. The first time we met, I was struck by his genuine warmth whenever he talked about Micah.

Really?

Really?

Really?

It was sweet, but also it made me wonder. If he didn't have those photos of Micah, would he like her? Would he have felt as motivated to work on her case? He didn't talk this way about Bonnie and Trisha's kids, Maureen and Aiden. He called what happened to them tragic. But he also said he didn't think a jury would have much sympathy for them. He said they made choices that put themselves at risk.

It was sweet, but also it made me wonder. If he didn't have those photos of Micah, would he like her? Would he have felt as motivated to work on her case? He didn't talk this way about Bonnie and Trisha's kids, Maureen and Aiden. He called what happened to them tragic. But he also said he didn't think a jury would have much sympathy for them. He said they made choices that put themselves at risk.

It was sweet, but also it made me wonder. If he didn't have those photos of Micah, would he like her? Would he have felt as motivated to work on her case? He didn't talk this way about Bonnie and Trisha's kids, Maureen and Aiden. He called what happened to them tragic. But he also said he didn't think a jury would have much sympathy for them. He said they made choices that put themselves at risk.

Highway Patrol concluded that Aiden was lying in the road when he was hit. He'd sent text messages to friends suggesting he was suicidal. And someone reported Marina stumbling intoxicated just before she was killed. Lepaka told me he didn't see any way he could win at trial in either case.

Highway Patrol concluded that Aiden was lying in the road when he was hit. He'd sent text messages to friends suggesting he was suicidal. And someone reported Marina stumbling intoxicated just before she was killed. Lepaka told me he didn't see any way he could win at trial in either case.

Highway Patrol concluded that Aiden was lying in the road when he was hit. He'd sent text messages to friends suggesting he was suicidal. And someone reported Marina stumbling intoxicated just before she was killed. Lepaka told me he didn't see any way he could win at trial in either case.

But his explanations left out some key details, like the fact that the driver who killed Marina was intoxicated too, or that in Aiden's evidence file, the coroner said that Aiden's injuries indicated that he'd been standing when he got hit, not lying down. All of this was the sort of reasoning that caused so much agony for Trisha and Bonnie.

But his explanations left out some key details, like the fact that the driver who killed Marina was intoxicated too, or that in Aiden's evidence file, the coroner said that Aiden's injuries indicated that he'd been standing when he got hit, not lying down. All of this was the sort of reasoning that caused so much agony for Trisha and Bonnie.

But his explanations left out some key details, like the fact that the driver who killed Marina was intoxicated too, or that in Aiden's evidence file, the coroner said that Aiden's injuries indicated that he'd been standing when he got hit, not lying down. All of this was the sort of reasoning that caused so much agony for Trisha and Bonnie.

The feeling that law enforcement assumed their kids were responsible for their own deaths. Six months after Micah was killed, in October of 2023, Lepaka was finally close to filing charges against Sunny White. He invited Carissa and Kevin into his office to hear about the evidence he had compiled against her.

The feeling that law enforcement assumed their kids were responsible for their own deaths. Six months after Micah was killed, in October of 2023, Lepaka was finally close to filing charges against Sunny White. He invited Carissa and Kevin into his office to hear about the evidence he had compiled against her.

The feeling that law enforcement assumed their kids were responsible for their own deaths. Six months after Micah was killed, in October of 2023, Lepaka was finally close to filing charges against Sunny White. He invited Carissa and Kevin into his office to hear about the evidence he had compiled against her.

That's not how Carissa and Kevin felt about the meeting. One of the pieces of evidence he showed them was body cam footage from the day Micah was killed, just hours after Sunny hit her. Her SUV, a Cadillac Escalade, had broken down in a church parking lot. It was missing the passenger side mirror. Police had found the mirror not far from Micah's body.

That's not how Carissa and Kevin felt about the meeting. One of the pieces of evidence he showed them was body cam footage from the day Micah was killed, just hours after Sunny hit her. Her SUV, a Cadillac Escalade, had broken down in a church parking lot. It was missing the passenger side mirror. Police had found the mirror not far from Micah's body.

That's not how Carissa and Kevin felt about the meeting. One of the pieces of evidence he showed them was body cam footage from the day Micah was killed, just hours after Sunny hit her. Her SUV, a Cadillac Escalade, had broken down in a church parking lot. It was missing the passenger side mirror. Police had found the mirror not far from Micah's body.