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Law
Guilty plea in murders of Crow Reservation women


The only person charged in connection with the murders of two women on the Crow Reservation in Montana pleaded guilty last week to lying to investigators.

Moses Kalani Rising Sun, 21, admitted he lied to protect his brother, Eugene Rising Sun, a suspect in the murders of LaFonda Big Leggins, 23, and Koren Nola Diebert, 26.

No one has been charged directly for the murders of Big Leggins and Diebert. Members and leaders of the Crow Tribe have criticized federal prosecutors for failing to bring anyone to justice.

Big Leggins and Diebert were killed sometime in November 2003. They were last seen with Moses Rising Sun and his brothers, Eugene and Randy Rising Sun. Eugene Rising Sun is serving a 71-month federal prison sentence in an unrelated drug case.

Get the Story:
Lawmen get plea in the killings of Hardin women (The Billings Gazette 1/17)

Relevant Documents:
Crow Tribe Letter | U.S. Attorney's Response

Related Stories:
Editorial: Justice lacking in Crow murder case (12/02)
Series: Waiting for justice on Crow Reservation (11/29)
Crow Tribe blames unsolved murders on racism (11/23)
Charges pending for murders on Crow Reservation (06/25)
Juvenile held for Crow Reservation murders (12/11)
Arrests in Crow Reservation double murder (12/10)
Two women beaten to death on Crow Reservation (12/01)