Found guilty of killing 28-year old Whisper Sellers 2-years ago, 42-year old Del Orrin Crawford will likely spend the remainder of his life in prison. That’s the sentence handed-down by District Court Judge Dan Wilson: 100-years and $91,809 is restitution.
Back in July, the jury took 5-hours to find him guilty of Deliberate Homicide, Attempted Deliberate Homicide for the shooting of Whisper’s husband, 33-year old Doug Crosswhite, and tampering with evidence. He apparently tried to hid his piston in the wheel-well of his jeep.
Prosecutors tells us the incident began when Crawford confronted the pair attempting to start a golf cart outside the South Fork Saloon in Martin City. We’re told Crawford pushed the woman, causing a pushing-match between the 2-men. When Crawford was pushed to the ground, he reached into his waistband, pulled his handgun and began shooting.
When Deputies arrived, they found Whisper Sellars dead on the ground. They’d encountered Crosswhite on the road coming in with a tourniquet around his arm and a seal on his chest wound. He was flown to Kalispell Regional Medical Center on the ALERT helicopter.
Attorney General Austin Knudsen sent in his “big guns”, Deputy Prosecutors Thorin Geist and Selene Koepke. Crawford’s attorney, Kris McLean was unsuccessful in convincing the jury his client acted in self-defense.