Vaska murder trial postponed due to court wrangling

A jury trial for a Polson man, accused of murdering his mother, was pushed back for a second time, this time without a date.

Garrett Vaska, 47, was arraigned in District Court in Polson on Sept 28, 2023. He entered a plea of not guilty to felony charges of deliberate homicide with a dangerous weapon and tampering with, or fabricating physical evidence. The case was in front of Judge Deborah “Kim” Christopher before she retired, and now it’s before Judge Molly Owen.

Vaska’s public defender, Toby Cook indicated that he intends to file a “writ of supervisory control” to the Montana Supreme Court over a motion denied by Judge Molly Owen. It dealt with the suppression of certain statements made by Vaska at the scene. The motion also sought to suppress certain evidence gathered by investigators when they entered into the home where the body was found.

The trial set for March 31 was vacated. A new trial order would likely come, if and when the Supreme Court issues a ruling on the request for the writ of supervisory control.

According to charging documents, sometime between Aug. 28 and Sept. 6, 2023, Vaska allegedly stabbed his mother, Phillista St. John, multiple times causing her death. He then allegedly attempted to conceal her body by putting it in garbage bags and storing it under blankets in a room of her residence where it remained for several days.

Investigators noted that the body had started to decompose. Pillows and other bedding were covered in large amounts of blood, inconsistent with a natural death. A bloody knife with a missing tip on the blade was located within the home, along with several other knives. During an autopsy, a tip of a knife was located in the victim’s skull.

The investigation began with a welfare check by healthcare providers with the Confederated and Salish and Kootenai Tribes. Suspicious circumstances led the providers to contact law enforcement, which resulted in the discovery of St. John’s body.

Investigators say they also found a handwritten note that read, “I couldn’t do it anymore. Nobody would help me and I couldn’t do it anymore she wouldn’t (unintelligible handwriting) I killed her. Nobody knew and no one cared.”

The note also said, “I’m sorry everything I have goes (unintelligible handwriting) to my daughter.”

Vaska remains in the Lake County Jail with bond set at $250,000.