Emotional sentencing hearing in Missoula murder case

MISSOULA, Montana — Two known white supremacists who killed one woman and severely injured another in Missoula last year will both serve life in prison.

Scott Price and Sarah McKnight were sentenced in Missoula County District Court on Monday for their involvement in the stabbing death of one woman, and the stabbing of another woman.

“You’re a bad, evil man in my opinion. And I’m not sure you really do regret this. I’m not convinced that you’re not proud of yourself for your accomplishments,” Missoula County District Court Judge Robert Deschamps said.

Price and McKnight came to Missoula from Great Falls last December, days after Price killed a 78-year-old man in Miles City. In a meth fueled crime spree the two targeting older women, in an attempt to steal a car and some money.

Desperate for drugs, Price stabbed a woman multiple times while she tried to load groceries. She survived, and testified at the hearing.

“I’m the lucky one. I survived your attempt to kill me. My family did not have to plan a funeral or figure out how to live without me and have their lives forever changed,” the victim said.

The worst was yet to come as the two went across Brooks Street to the Super 8 hotel. There Price stabbed and killed 56-year-old Lonette Keehner, a Native American. They took her car and left town, and were found in Idaho days later.

Several of Keehner’s family members testified, calling her a selfless woman who was taken far too soon. Detective’s and Keehner’s husband believe that meth wasn’t the only thing that fueled this crime.

“Something about the swastika tattoo and the number 88 tattoo on your body show the hatred you have for minorities,” Keehner’s said.

Both Price and McKnight responded in court.

“At this point of my addiction, I was using meth every couple of hours all day and night. On Monday we were broke, tired, dirty and running low on drugs,” McKnight said. “Things got desperate. The decisions that we both made were very wrong and I would take it all back if I could.”

“There’s nothing I can say to make it right. It wasn’t a hate crime and it had nothing to do with her being native. It was just a meth fueled bad deal. I apologize,” Price said.

Judge Deschamps sentenced both to life in prison.

“And you’ll do just fine in prison. I mean you spent most of your life there and it looks to me like this accumulates into 10 felonies you’ve got under your belt,” Deschamps said.

Price will have no possibility for parole, and was also sentenced to life for the Miles City murder. McKnight will not be eligible for parole for 60 years.