What are the charges against Sunny White? 'White nationalist' mother pleads not guilty in hit-and-run homicide of Mika Westwolf
LAKE COUNTY, MONTANA: A mother-of-two, Sunny K White, has pleaded not guilty to five felony charges, including vehicular homicide, in the hit-and-run death of a young Native American woman, Mika Westwolf.
The horrifying events unfolded on the early morning of March 31 when 28-year-old White allegedly struck and killed 22-year-old Mika on Highway 93 within the Flathead Indian Reservation in Montana.
Was Sunny White driving under the influence?
The gravity of the situation was further compounded by the presence of White's young children, four-year-old Aryan, and two-year-old Nation, in the car during the incident.
When authorities eventually located White, she claimed to have thought she had hit a deer and was passing a bottle to her baby when the accident occurred. However, a blood sample taken later revealed the presence of fentanyl and methamphetamine, according to the affidavit.
White's arraignment occurred seven months after Mika's tragic death, leaving her mother, Carissa Heavy Runner, and supporters deeply frustrated.
Heavy Runner and a crowd of supporters wore red shirts with the words 'Mika Matters' in a poignant display of solidarity. The delay in White's arraignment drew attention to the challenges that Indigenous communities face when seeking justice.
Does Sunny White have White nationalist ties?
The case has taken a more ominous turn as claims of White's association with extremist "White nationalist ideology" surfaced. The Montana Human Rights Network (MHRN) suggested that White's children's names, Aryan and Nation, "clearly indicate her support for white nationalist ideals," Daily Mail reported.
Furthermore, MHRN conducted research that seemingly substantiated White's connection to such extremist beliefs.
Official charges were filed against White on October 20, several months after the incident. She was held at a jail in Kalispell but she was released after posting a $200,000 surety bond.
Mika's family and supporters had been tirelessly campaigning for justice during this period, demanding accountability and drawing attention to the systemic issues surrounding the crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives (MMIR).
"Our mission is to support affected families, advocate for accountability, and raise awareness about the systemic issues that perpetuate the crisis of MMIR (Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives)," stated a website set up in her honor.
It further said, "Together, we stand as a voice for those who cannot speak for themselves and work towards a future where justice is served."
Mika, a member of the Blackfeet Nation, was not only a passionate athlete but also an award-winning poet and photographer. She was among four tribal members selected to attend an Indigenous Cultural Exchange with the Sherpa people of Nepal, underscoring the promising future she was robbed of.
In honor of Mika, a GoFundMe campaign has been established, which has already raised over $35,000 of its $100,000 goal, with over 800 donors.
Other charges against Sunny White
Apart from the vehicular homicide charge, White faces additional charges stemming from an incident seven days after the hit-and-run. She was accused of breaking into a house and taking her two children, allegedly because she believed her children's father was unfit to care for them.
White contacted the police for assistance in picking up her children, but later lied to an officer, falsely claiming that charges related to Mika's death had been dropped due to "negative" blood test results. The case was ultimately dismissed at the request of a witness.
White's next court date is scheduled for January, with a trial set for May 6. If she is convicted of the vehicular homicide charge alone, she could face up to 30 years in Montana State Prison.