SANDPOINT — A former Bonner County resident has pleaded guilty under an Alford plea to voluntary manslaughter of a 2019 missing person.  

Jordan Jarrad Law, 47, was expected to go to trial in late September on a felony charge of second-degree murder before he accepted a plea deal that would dismiss all original charges against him if he entered an Alford plea to voluntary manslaughter.  

Law was arrested Sept. 18, 2024, in connection with the murder of his ex-girlfriend, Rae Berwanger, who was 54 at the time of her disappearance in 2019. He was originally charged with second-degree murder, offering false or forged instruments for the record, and destruction of evidence. He was also indicted on two counts of rape in connection with an additional victim discovered during the investigation. 

Berwanger was last seen by her brother March 3, 2019, at Law’s Kelso Lake Road residence. At the time, her disappearance was classified as an adult missing person with reasonable concern for her safety.  

During an investigation into her disappearance, according to the Bonner County Sheriff’s Office, Law was developed as a person of interest in the case.  

After a lengthy investigation by Bonner County Sheriff’s detectives and with the assistance of the Idaho State Police SAKI (Sexual Assault Kit Initiative) program, Law was indicted by a grand jury Sept. 17, 2024.  

The following day, Law was located in Spokane and taken into custody.  

Court documents on the case remain sealed from the public. It is not clear what prompted murder charges to be filed at the time or what evidence was presented to the grand jury to prompt Law's indictment. 

Under an Alford plea, a defendant admits no wrongdoing but concedes that a guilty verdict could result following a trial. The plea is treated no differently at sentencing than a standard guilty plea.  

As part of the pretrial settlement, Law will face a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison and a $15,000 fine. Prosecutor Louis Marshall will seek the maximum penalty. Law will also forfeit the opportunity to appeal the court's decision.  

In Idaho, voluntary manslaughter refers to the unlawful killing of a human being without malice, during a sudden quarrel or heat of passion. By contrast, second-degree murder involves malice aforethought.   

    Berwanger