Billings Family Endures Renewed Grief as Alleged Killer faces mental Health Waitlist
BILLINGS, MT – Teh family of Susan LaForge is grappling with continued trauma and frustration as the man accused of her murder, Terrell Spotted Wolf, remains incarcerated while awaiting a bed at the Montana State Hospital. The delay has sparked concerns about a possibly prolonged legal battle and echoes past instances where the family has sought justice without resolution.
LaForge, a beloved sister and aunt, was allegedly murdered by Spotted Wolf, and her body was discovered in a suitcase by her 12-year-old son, according to Billings Police.The horrific discovery has left deep scars on the family,making it difficult to even speak about Susan,and preventing some relatives from participating in updates on the case. “The wound is still fresh,” said Daniel LaForge, Susan’s brother. “Family would also speak about Susan, but it’s still to traumatic.”
The case highlights the challenges of navigating Montana’s mental health system within the criminal justice framework. Spotted Wolf’s attorney,Joe Zavatsky,stated his client was ordered to receive treatment at the state mental facility in Warm Springs,but faces a waitlist exceeding a year. “To go to the court every 90 or 120 days with an update of moving about 20 places on a wait list. It’s frustrating,” Zavatsky said. This delay, he argues, is depriving his client of a speedy trial.
The LaForge family’s pain is compounded by previous experiences with unresolved violent deaths. In 2005, Daniel laforge’s nephew, Steven Bearcrane, was shot and killed, with no charges ever filed. More recently, another nephew, Beau Harlan Beaumont, was shot outside America’s Wild West Saloon in February 2023.
“It brings a lot of stress and it brings kind of a lot of hard feelings and knowing that we,we may potentially go down that road again,” Daniel LaForge expressed.
Despite the ongoing anguish, the family remembers Susan as a compassionate and supportive presence. “She was always there to listen because she understood that we were all on our journey,” LaForge said. “She always liked to see the best of people.”
The family now awaits the progression of Spotted Wolf’s case and hopes for a resolution that brings a measure of closure.
