White Bear Lake Woman Pleads Guilty in Relation to Man's 2021 Dakota Co. Killing
Under a plea agreement, a 23-year-old White Bear Lake woman will avoid a 2nd-degree unintentional murder charge in connection with the death of a man found tied and gagged with a rag in a bathroom in southern Dakota County last July.
Ryann Elizabeth Smith, 23, was originally charged with 2nd-degree unintentional murder in the death of Chris Lafontaine, 55, at his home on July 2, 2021 in Greenvale Township, in southern Dakota County.
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Under the deal, the 2nd-degree unintentional murder charge (aiding and abetting) against Smith will be dropped with her guilty plea on the assault charge. Her sentencing is set for June and Smith is being held in the Dakota County jail without bail.
Court documents say that around 4:45 p.m. on July 2, 2021, Dakota County sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to a burglary in progress at a residence in Greenvale Township. The reporting party told deputies that two males ran out of the residence when a neighbor knocked on the door to check on the homeowner, Chris Lafontaine.
FACEBOOK: Our post on the homicide from July 2, 2021
Witnesses reported seeing two males run and get into a white Dodge Durango that was later confirmed to belong to the victim.
Deputies found Lafontaine deceased in a bathroom of the residence, with his hands and feet bound together with several ligatures, court documents said. There was a rag and a glove over the victim’s mouth, held in place with a ligature tied around his head.
An autopsy was performed and Lafontaine’s death was determined to be due to asphyxia.
Chris Lafontaine, photo from GoFundMe page.
Shortly after discovering the victim’s body, Northfield police officers located Lafontaine’s Durango and after officers initiated a traffic stop, the driver of the Durango fled.
Eventually the driver stopped and all three occupants fled into a wooded area. Officers ultimately apprehended the driver, Stephanie Peabody, and the front seat passenger, Timothy Tuit.
The third occupant, later identified as Nicholas Alan Taylor, fled on foot and evaded capture. He was eventually apprehended in Montana along with Ryann Smith.
Both Tuit and Peabody pleaded guilty Dec. 1, 2021 to one count of aiding an offender (accomplice after the fact) and will be sentenced on May 11, 2022 in Hastings.
Peabody told investigators that both Taylor and Smith had talked about having tied up Lafontaine during the burglary.
According to court documents, Taylor told Peabody that he had tied up the victim and Smith had hit Lafontaine in the head with a flashlight.
Taylor pleaded guilty February 17, 2022 to one count of unintentional 2nd-degree murder (aiding and abetting) and will also be sentenced June 2.
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