Homicide suspect gets plea bargain

A former homicide suspect has agreed to plead guilty to evidence tampering in exchange for testifying against the two other suspects in the murders of Gerald Sirucek and Catherine Madplume in a deal that could have him face no future jail time.

In a District Court appearance last week, Glen Joseph Gardipee, 29, pled guilty to one felony count of tampering or fabricating evidence for his role in the Feb. 3 murders. Gardipee allegedly helped move Sirucek's body after he was killed, and will be sentenced on December 15, after the November trial of fellow suspects J.C. Green and Troy McDonald.

"Based on everything we have discovered, it appears he was not involved (in the actual murders)," deputy county attorney Mitch Young said. "It did not appear that he was involved with anything except moving the body."

Gardipee faces up to 10 years in prison and a $50,000 fine on the evidence tampering charge, but Young's recommendation — contingent on Gardipee's cooperation during Green's and McDonald's trials — is that he be credited for time served.

The plea bargain doesn't sit well with Sirucek's family, who feel it's too light considering Gardipee has admitted to being there the night of the murders.

"I had talked with Mitch Young. He mentioned the plea bargain, but I told him 'I'd rather you don't offer it to him.' I want him in jail," said Sirucek's mother, Lisa King.

Young said he understands the family's frustration, but that the county attorney's office has to try to get convictions on charges they know they can support, and that the evidence they've gathered indicates Gardipee didn't kill Sirucek or Madplume.

"I spoke with family members of both families, and briefed them on what was going on and told them what would happen in the Gardipee case. While I know it bothers them he was there (at the murder scene), I think they still understand that we have to go on only what we know we can prove," Young said.

According to court documents filed in the case, Sirucek, Gardipee, McDonald and Green were drinking heavily at a house outside of St. Ignatius that night when Sirucek was shot in an apparent planned robbery after the suspects found out he had about $200 in student loan money. Madplume went looking for Sirucek later that night, and was apparently shot after the suspects feared she'd locate his body.

Green later showed up at Tribal police headquarters in Ronan early the next morning, claiming to be an innocent party and facing harassment from the other two suspects, but law enforcement officials have since come to doubt a lot of his story. Green and McDonald, both 19, still face deliberate homicide charges.

A special response team made up of Lake County Sheriff's deputies and Tribal officers stormed the house and allegedly found McDonald and Gardipee asleep inside, while Madplume and Sirucek's bodies had been dumped behind a trailer behind the main house. Green's Jeep was found at a relative's house in Pablo, and had what was later found to be Sirucek's blood in it.

Sirucek's family members said it was important for them to be at all of the suspects' court appearances, and that they only found out Thursday night that Gardipee had accepted a plea bargain and is now out of jail.

"Thursday night, there were some phone calls. That's how I found out about it. I keep in constant contact with Caroline Madplume (Catherine's mother), and we were both surprised," King said.

A Leader reporter was unable to reach Caroline Madplume, who has since moved to Browning, before deadline.

Young said he has tried his best to keep family members apprised of the developments, but that he, too, was surprised that the bargain was immediately received and signed last week. Typically, defense attorney and suspects will want to "sit" on a potential agreement and think it over for a week or so, Young said, so it was surprising when Gardipee jumped at the opportunity during last week's court appearance, leaving the county attorney's office no time to notify the families, he said.

"Normally I would have the chance to call the families and say 'There will be a court appearance next week,' but I didn't have a chance to do that. I was surprised that they signed the plea agreement that quickly," Young said. "Normally, a defense attorney will think about an offer for a week or so."

However, even if Gardipee doesn't serve any more time, he will be on probation for a decade and could serve most or all of that time if he commits even a minor crime, Young noted. Gardipee's attorney, Polson attorney Ben Anciaux, did not return a call seeking comment.

The Kings expressed concern about Gardipee being out of jail, and Daina Sirucek, Gerald's sister, said she and Sirucek's other sister, Lisa King, Jr., were afraid of Gardipee.

"I moved out of Mission because I was scared. I knew Glen personally and I think he had something to do with it. I've been out of town ever since he got out," said Sirucek, 24.

"I'm worried. How are they going to make sure he sticks around for the trial to testify?" King said. "Are they going to use one of those ankle bracelets? My daughters are scared to death."

The five and a half months since Sirucek's murder haven't been easy for the family, Daina Sirucek said. The family started a donation campaign to raise money for a headstone for Sirucek, only to find out that someone stole the money, Daina said.

"Someone stole the donation can from the Polson Town Pump and used that to trade out the cans everywhere. But we raised almost a $1,000 and the state matched that with money (from the crime victim's fund)," Sirucek said. "It sucks, having to go pick out a headstone for your brother. It's been 161, 162 days and we still don't have any closure. Something has to be done. Maybe they'll get justice in the end."