(MISSOULA) Augustus Standingrock, charged with killing two people and dismembering their bodies, was in court Monday asking that his trial be moved to a later date.
Standingrock is currently facing felony homicide charges, along with his ex-girlfriend Tiffanie Pierce, for the murder of Marilyn Pickett, 15 years old, and Jackson Wiles, 24, in their Strand Avenue home in August 2017. Court documents state the two also tried disposing of the bodies in chemical-filled tubs in their basement.
The Missoula County Sheriff’s Office reported at the time that the initial investigation indicated that Pickett and Wiles died from stab wounds.
Standingrock is currently being held in the Missoula County Detention Center.
It was recently discovered that Standingrock had attempted to hide a letter he received in the detention center. When jail officials discovered the letter, Standingrock attempted to eat the note to destroy its contents.
Officials were able to obtain the letter, but now the FBI is trying to figure out if the letter is legible. The state argues they don’t need to know the full contents of the letter, but they would like to find out who sent it.
Prosecutors suspect it could be Tiffanie Pierce, Standingrock’s alleged accomplice. Contact between the two is currently prohibited.
Standingrock’s defense argues the note cannot be made legible.
On Monday, Judge James Wheelis denied the defense motion to move the trial date.
The defense has requested to move the trial out of Missoula County saying media coverage would taint the jury pool. Wheelis has not yet ruled on that motion.
- Reported by Connor McCauley
