Rodeo teen death yields felony charge in Sanders County

Man faces charge in death of Ronan teen

Jonathan Ross Gray, 27, of Massachusetts was released on his own recognizance after making his initial Sanders County Court appearance last month in the shooting death of 16-year-old Polson teenager Aunika Corrigan last year.

Charged with felony negligent homicide, Gray appeared via video conference with attorney Thane Johnson on May 5, just under six weeks short of a year after Corrigan was killed on June 24, 2015.

A week before the 2015 Polson rodeo, Gray and two female companions — Corrigan and Shannon Oakley, a 2014 Polson High School graduate — traveled to the country.

Oakley met Gray through a social media application called Tinder. 

Oakley told emergency responders that she did not “hang out with” Corrigan much, a Sanders County affidavit said.

Corrigan died about 10 miles from Sloan’s Bridge in Sanders County.

Oakley told emergency dispatchers “there was nothing to do, as the girl was not alive,” the affidavit said.

Chad Radabah, Hot Springs chief of police, and Jared Hutchings, a Sanders County sheriff’s deputy, met Oakley on Little Bitterroot Road. She who guided them to the site of Corrigan’s death.

When they arrived, they found Gray sitting in the grass near Corrigan’s body that was covered with a towel.

Oakley told paramedics that the three were in the area to enjoy a day of fishing but decided to hunt rattlesnakes, the affidavit said.

 “While driving down the road a coyote was spotted in the field and Gray decided to shoot it,” the affidavit said. “Gray got in the bed of the pickup to take the shot and [Corrigan] got out of the rear passenger seat and stood next to the vehicle.”

Oakley said that Gray got out of his truck, rifle in hand. Gray jumped into the bed of his truck. Corrigan jumped out and walked to the rear of the truck.

Oakley did not witness the shooting. She told paramedics she got out of the truck after the incident occurred but that she saw Gray run up to Corrigan and begin to cry. Oakley called 911.

Gray chose to stay with Corrigan while Oakley drove Gray’s truck to first find cell service, then meet emergency responders, the affidavit said.

Oakley reported that Gray consumed several beers during the day. Later testing concluded that Corrigan did not have drugs or alcohol in her body at the time of her death.

When questioned, Gray told an investigating deputy that he “met Oakley that day over the Internet. Gray was going fishing and messaged them that they could go along,” the affidavit said. “According to Gray, Oakley drove her vehicle to Sloan’s Bridge and the three met there at about 3 p.m.”

Gray admitted drinking three beers during the day and said the gun belonged to his former girlfriend.

The affidavit naming Gray and his potential felony charge was submitted April 15, 2016. 

Gray will face further court proceedings in Sanders County District Court, the affidavit said.