Mika Westwolf was killed in a hit-and-run on Highway 93 near Arlee in March 2023, and her family is still fighting for justice. On October 30, 2024, Sunny White pleaded guilty to “vehicular homicide and incidents involving another person.” With sentencing set for January 31, 2025, her parents, Carissa HeavyRunner and Kevin Howard, are pushing for the maximum sentence and seeking community support.
The case has garnered significant attention, symbolizing the struggles of many families of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW). The relentless advocacy of Westwolf’s family, particularly her parents, has ensured that justice for Mika has been pursued.
White’s plea deal included the dismissal of charges for criminal child endangerment and criminal possession of dangerous drugs. While White’s conviction could result in up to 40 years in prison, the Westwolf family fears the sentencing could be “five years or less,” an outcome that HeavyRunner finds unacceptable. She and her family had hoped for a jury trial to bring further visibility to Mika’s case and to challenge racial biases they feel persist in the justice system.
HeavyRunner has called on the community to assist in the pursuit of maximum sentencing by writing letters to Katie Campbell, Sergeant of the Kalispell Region Probation and Parole Board, who will write the final report for White’s sentencing. She hopes these letters, along with testimony from Mika’s family at the sentencing, will help ensure that White receives the maximum sentence and is denied the possibility of early parole…