Orr hangs himself in prison

UPDATED DEER LODGE — A Polson man convicted of a 2006 murder was found dead in his state prison cell on Saturday.

It was determined Brandon Orr, 28, hanged himself in his cell on Saturday evening at the Montana State Prison in Deer Lodge, said Linda Moodry, public/victims information officer for the MSP.

Orr pleaded guilty in December 2006 of bludgeoning his mother to death with a hammer in July 2006. Orr was charged with mitigated deliberate homicide and sentenced to 50 years with no chance of parole.

Brenda Francis, Orr’s mother, was killed on July 29, 2006, from blows to her head and a knife wound on her throat, according to a statement made by the Lake County Sheriff’s office at the time.

According to then-undersheriff Mike Sargeant, a friend of Francis’ became concerned after she failed to show up for a previously scheduled appointment, and did not answer knocks on her door. After entering her apartment, her body was discovered and the friend called requesting a coroner.

After ambulance personnel and Polson police officers responded to the scene, they realized Francis had not died of natural causes, Sargeant said.

In his plea agreement, Orr was to serve his 50 years in a secure facility with the Department of Public Health and Human Services, according to a Dec. 14, 2006, Leader article.

Orr’s sister, Amber Francis, said in 2006 that she came to understand that her mother’s death would help Orr get the help he needed.

Orr was transferred to the MSP on July 30, 2009, according to prison records.

According to the same Leader article, Orr had threatened to commit suicide before his mother’s death.