Prosecution Will Not Seek Death Penalty in Triple Murder Case

A virtual status conference was held Tuesday in Fourth Judicial District Court in Sheridan for Dana Beartusk, who is charged with three counts of First Degree Murder. It was announced at the hearing that Sheridan County Attorney Dianna Bennett will not seek the death penalty in the case against Beartusk. District Court Judge John Fenn set the date for the 7-day jury trial to begin on Monday, April 19 of next year. A pretrial conference was scheduled for March 11 at 9 am.

Also scheduled were two status conferences, the first on December 10 at 9 am, and the second on February 4 at 9 am. Judge Fenn said that the status conferences were set so that the Court can address any pending motions made by either the defense or prosecution. Beartusk was charged with three counts of First Degree Murder earlier this year for allegedly killing three family members in Big Horn during the evening hours of Sunday, March 29. The victims include Beartusk’s wife, Angelina Beartusk, his sister, Seana Fisher, and her son Blackhawk Fisher. The crime of First Degree Murder is punishable by death, life in prison without parole, or life in prison according to law.