SANDPOINT - Three people were charged Monday in connection with the shooting death of a 19-year-old Bonner County man last September.

The remains of Michael Wyatt Smith were recovered from a shallow grave in the Rapid Lightning Creek drainage earlier this month.

Austin Blake Thrasher is charged with first-degree murder. His wife, Jennifer Dunnagan Thrasher, and a third suspect, Christopher Robin Garlin, are charged as accessories in the slaying.

All three suspects made initial court appearances Monday via video link with the Bonner County Jail. The trio was already in jail while awaiting trial for burglarizing a Ponderay pawn shop in December.

Austin Thrasher, 19, raised his eyebrows and dejectedly rubbed his palm over his head when Judge Debra Heise advised him of the murder charge.

Austin Thrasher was ordered held on $500,000. Bail for Jennifer Thrasher, 22, and Garlin, also 19, was set at $50,000. Jennifer Thrasher told the court she intends to hire private counsel to represent her. Austin Thrasher and Garlin have court-appointed defense counsel.

Preliminary hearings are pending to determine if enough evidence exists to justify trying the suspects in 1st District Court.

Sheriff's officials said the victim and the accused were acquainted with one another and ran in the same social circles.

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