‘Person of Interest’ in Murders Released on her own Recognizance
The young woman wanted for over a week as a ‘person of interest’ in the motel murders that occurred on October 18 appeared in Missoula Justice Court on Friday on felony drug charges, and was released on her own recognizance.
18 year-old Labenza Dawn Charlo was charged with attempted criminal possession of dangerous drugs, opiate.
According to court documents, Charlo met another woman at the motel room to purchase heroin from her. Charlo was later seen returning to the motel room with two men, Preston Rossbach and Jonathan Whitworth. The three then entered the other woman’s room where three people were shot, two fatally.
When she was apprehended at a residence in Lake County, Charlo was held in the Missoula County Jail on $50,000 bond.
At her Justice Court appearance on Friday, Chief Deputy Missoula County Attorney Jason Marks asked that Charlo be released on her own recognizance.
“The State would request that you release Ms. Charlo on her own recognizance,” said Marks to Judge Landee Holloway. “With regard to conditions, she must obey all laws, make all her court appearances and most importantly, maintain contact with her attorney.
As far as travel restrictions, I know she has a lot of family in Lake County, so I think she should be restricted to Missoula and Lake Counties, and maintain contact with her attorney so that she’ll know about her arraignment date and discuss her case.”
Both Rossbach and Whitworth remain in the Missoula County Jail on $250,000 bond for the shooting deaths of 23 year-old Jason Flink and 31 year-old Megan McLaughlin.
The investigation into their deaths is continuing.