By MICHELLE LOVATO

Lake County Leader

Emergency dispatchers first learned Raelynn M. Charlo was dead when her husband, Adrian M. McElderry called at 5 a.m. on Nov. 18, 2014 to notify them that his new bride committed suicide.

But when they arrived, Lake County Sheriff’s deputies quickly realized that something was wrong with McElderry’s suicide story.

Instead, they began to wonder if Charlo died at the hands of a murderer.

The alleged homicide occurred at the couple’s home on First Street in Charlo and when deputies arrived to investigate the scene of Charlo’s death, they determined the shooting was “suspicious,” took McElderry into custody for questioning and began the wait for Missoula Crime Lab experts to determine Charlo’s cause of death, said then Lake County Undersheriff Dan Yonkin.

Inconsistent evidence, along with inconsistent statements McElderry made raised authority’s suspicions, said Lake County Sheriff’s Department Public Relations Officer Karen Sargeant in November 2014. 

Investigators remained at the shooting scene all day investigating the incident.

McElderry, now 33, of Charlo was arrested and charged with deliberate homicide Nov. 19, 2014 and was arraigned Nov. 20 before Lake County Justice Court Judge Joey Jayne where he was appointed a public defense attorney. 

The couple was married seven months.

McElderry admitted responsibility for the crime May 21, 2015 when he submitted his plea agreement of “guilty” for felony mitigated homicide and misdemeanor obstructing justice.

He was sentenced to 60 years in prison Dec. 1.

But the assault that ended Charlo’s life was not the first felony act of violence for which McElderry admitted guilt.

In 2010, McElderry was charged with felony aggravated assault and felony criminal endangerment, according to Lake County Court records.

McElderry ultimately pleaded guilty to that assault, which was against another woman, and his charges were reduced to felony partner or family member assault, first offense, records said.

McElderry’s judgement for Charlo’s murder was entered Dec. 1, 2015 by 20th District Court Judge James A. Manley after McElderry pleaded guilty to felony mitigated deliberate homicide and felony obstructing justice.

For the felony homicide charge McElderry was given 40 years with no time suspended and an additional 10 years for admitting to use a gun during the crime. He was sentenced to Montana State Prison for an additional 10 years with no time suspended for the second count of obstructing justice, Lake County court records said.

Each sentence will run consecutively to one another.

“This punishment is appropriate for the seriousness of this crime and the magnitude of harm done to the family,”   Manley said. “The defendant is a serious danger, an alcoholic and violent when he drinks.”

Court documents also outlined the specific perimeters McElderry must follow if he is paroled.

Shortly after his sentencing, McElderry was transferred to the prison’s evaluation center where he will remain for several weeks. He will then be transferred to Montana State Prison to serve his time. The Lake County Leader is in process of reaching out to McElderry to request a personal interview.