2 women arraigned in Montana man's strangulation death

BUTTE, Mont. (AP) — Two Montana women were arraigned on charges related to the death of a man whose body was found between a washer and dryer with a plastic bag over his head.

Sandy Rose Moore is charged with deliberate homicide for allegedly strangling 49-year-old Larry Coon in January, The Montana Standard reported Tuesday.

Moore is also charged with tampering with evidence. Because she is to undergo a mental health evaluation, District Judge Luke Berger entered not guilty pleas on her behalf and she remains in custody.

Christina Vanduinen, who is also in custody, pleaded not guilty to felony obstructing justice and conspiracy to tamper with evidence.

Kerry Samuel Johnson did not appear for arraignment on a charge of felony obstruction of justice.

Johnson indicated he might know the location of a body and told police he had gone to Coon’s home in Dillon and found his wallet but Coon was not there, prosecutors said.

Moore, who was 19 at the time, first refused to admit police before eventually allowing officers into the home she shared with Coon, authorities said.

Officers found Coon between the washer and dryer with a bag over his head in a position indicating his body had been moved, authorities said.

A search turned up evidence including an electric cord investigators believe may have been used to strangle Coon, authorities said.

Vanduinen denied seeing or touching Coon’s body “despite having detailed knowledge of the condition and location of the body,” according to charging documents.

Johnson offered conflicting statements about the case, authorities said.