Northern Cheyenne Family express concerns about lack of murder investigation

LAME DEER, Mont. –  Maggie Runsabove, Northern Cheyenne/Sioux of Lame Deer, Montana is a grieving mother, as is the rest of her extended family.

On June 7, 2023, her son Lester Runsabove, age 41, an enrolled member of the Northern Cheyenne Tribe was brutally attacked in Billings by a group of unknown assailants which resulted in his death on June 15th.

He was a sixth generation descendant of the well known Chief Little Wolf and carried that hereditary name.

Ms. Runsabove recently contacted Native Sun News Today to express deep concern about what she feels is the lack of investigation on the case by the Billings Police Department, or at the very least, the lack of communication with the family about the status of the investigation.

“I think, that if this would have involved a white or black person, there would be an all-out manhunt and it would have been on the front pages.  There was no media mention of the incident, which is why I hope that bringing it out through NSNT might encourage the police to do their job. But, because he was just another Indian living on the “South” side, it makes me wonder if they care.”

Billings, Montana is near two reservations, specifically Crow and Northern Cheyenne. Due to lack of housing and employment opportunities, on most of the Montana reservations, there is a significant tribal population in Billings, many congregating on the “South” side, where housing is most affordable, much like the “North” side of Rapid City.

Unfortunately, these are considered high crime areas, although the entire city of Billings is now experiencing higher than normal crime rates in all areas of the City. According to media accounts by publications such as the Billings Gazette and local television stations, Billing is a hub of drug activity, gang activity and so forth, being located on a major drug transportation corridor.

According to Maggie, the assault occurred in the early morning hours on S. 27th street, near an apartment complex called the Colonial, what she called an “ugly” place. Discovered at the scene in an unconscious state, Lester was transported to the St. Vincent’s Billings hospital and placed in the intensive care unit. On June 9th, Maggie was notified and immediately went to Billings, identifying her son.

“He was an organ donor,” she explained. “That’s why they kept him going for two days.  When I approved the ‘harvest’ of his organs, he was gone.”

Maggie recently received a letter from the Northwest Life Center, an organ donor organization, informing her of where her sons’ organs have gone, literally saving the lives of other people. His heart went to a sixty-year-old man; his left kidney to a woman in her thirties; the right to a man in his thirties; and his liver to a woman in her twenties.

The recipients want to know more about Lester, she said. “When I have some time, I will sit down and exchange letters with them.  A little bit of him is still living.”

“He was always a strong, protecting and kind person,” she added.
She also clarified that her son had been released from prison for a non-drug-related crime.

“He was doing good though,” she stressed. “He completed a treatment program, was clean, had a job and his own apartment. He was completely “off paper”, meaning that he had satisfied the conditions of his parole.”

She referred NSNT to Detective Sutton of the Billings Police Department who is the key investigating officer. However, when contacted by telephone to ask for confirmation about the crime and status of the investigation, he said that by policy he could not speak about the matter. NSNT was then provided with a telephone number to the Investigations Manager, but not a name. However, despite repeated calls and messages to that number, as of press time that office has not responded to the NSNT inquiry.

On the other hand, Ms. Runsabove reported that Detective Sutton and another Detective Miller advised her that the Billings Police Department is still working on the case but said people who may have some knowledge of the incident are not willing to talk.

Tribal people tend to be closely connected when living in urban areas. Thus, Maggie has been advised by other tribal members of possible suspects, which she in turn related to the investigators. Thus far, those leads have not born any fruit, although one suspect was interrogated for several hours.

In summary, Ms. Runsabove, thanked NSNT for helping publicize the situation. “A lot of Indian people have been frustrated by this kind of problem – lack of investigation or communication,” she commented.  “Murder is probably the worst crime, and it shouldn’t matter what the color of your skin is, your race or other circumstances.  Justice should be color-blind. My son’s life mattered and I will not let this go. All lives matter.”

(Contact Clara Caufield at acheyennevoice@gmail.com)

The post Northern Cheyenne Family express concerns about lack of murder investigation first appeared on Native Sun News Today.

Visit Original Source