Thread by @JuddLegum

1. This is Mika Westwolf, a 22-year-old Indigenous woman

On March 31, she was killed when an alleged white nationalist ran her over on the side of a highway

Her killer is not currently facing any charges for killing Mika

Mika matters

This is her story

🧵

2. Mika was an enrolled member of the Blackfeet tribe

She excelled at basketball, enjoyed the outdoors, and "won awards with her poetry and videography."

She was one of four tribal members picked for a cultural exchange w/the Sherpa people of Nepal

popular.info/p/mika-westwol…

3. In the early morning of March 31, Mika was walking on the shoulder of U.S. Highway 93, which passes through the Flathead reservation

Mika was struck by a Cadillac Escalade and declared dead at the scene

4. According to court records, 28-year-old Sunny White was behind the wheel of the Escalade, and her two young children were in the backseat.

Initially, White was charged with two counts of criminal child endangerment and incarcerated

popular.info/p/mika-westwol…

5. But on April 6, Lake County Attorney James Lapotka dropped the charges, and White was released. The charges were dropped "without prejudice," which means they could be refiled.

6. According to criminal records obtained by popular.info, on April 7 at 1:15 AM, shortly after being released from jail, White requested a "civil escort" to retrieve her children from their father's house.

7. Notably, White's two children are named "Aryan," a four-year-old boy, and "Nation," a two-year-old girl.

The Montana Human Rights Network (MHRN) was told by Flatwood community members that White is a white nationalist.

8. A police office told White that he would not act as a "civil standby" at 1:30 AM

A few minutes later, a woman driving a truck belonging to White's sister arrived at the home of John Holmes, kicked in a door, and took the two children

9. A Missing Endangered Person Advisory was issued for the two children. According to the advisory, White was "known to abuse drugs," and there was a "concern for the children’s wellbeing"

White was charged on April 28 with burglary, parenting interference, and criminal mischief

10. White was released on a $50,000 bond. According to attorney Aaron Rains, who is prosecuting White on the burglary charge, her bond was revoked after White was arrested for theft on April 26. But Rains says White was re-released in short order, again on a $50,000 bond.

11. White is not currently facing any charges related to Mika's death and remains free.

A trial date has not been set for the burglary and related charges.

12. In an interview w/Popular Information, Lapotka said he dropped the charges against White because he needed "more time" to collect evidence. He said the decision to drop charges in these circumstances, at least temporarily, is something "that happens."

popular.info/p/mika-westwol…

13. Lapotka said he was waiting for the results of a search warrant for White's phone, White's toxicology report, and the report of the Montana Highway Patrol, which is in charge of the investigation.

But that's not all...

14. But Lapotka said he is also waiting for the toxicology report for MIKA and a search warrant that has been executed on MIKA's phone.

Asked what kind of evidence he was seeking, Lapotka declined to comment.