U.S. Attorney Jesse A. Laslovich | U.S. Department of Justice
U.S. Attorney Jesse A. Laslovich | U.S. Department of Justice
A 17-year-old from Crow Agency has admitted to murder and firearm charges in connection with the shooting death of an 18-year-old man, whose body was found in the Little Big Horn River on the Crow Indian Reservation. The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich.
The defendant, Orrin Richard Alden III, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and use of a firearm during a crime of violence. Alden faces life imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and five years of supervised release for the murder charge. For the firearm charge, he faces a mandatory 10 years in prison, consecutive to any other sentence, along with another $250,000 fine and five years of supervised release.
U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided over the case. Sentencing is scheduled for December 12. Alden remains in custody pending further proceedings.
Court documents reveal that on May 5, 2024, an unidentified body was recovered from the Little Big Horn River in Crow Agency. The victim was later identified as John Doe. An autopsy revealed two bullets: one pierced Doe’s heart and lodged on the opposite side of his torso; another entered his nostril and lodged in his skull.
Doe's family last saw him alive on April 27 or 28 when he was walking with a group towards where his body was later found. Two males were identified from photographs; Alden was one of them. A witness saw Doe carrying a black backpack containing marijuana, methamphetamine, and cash around noon on April 27.
Surveillance footage from Little Big Horn College Wellness Center showed Alden walking with Doe and others that day. The government alleges that the group drank alcohol and smoked marijuana before heading to the river where Alden allegedly shot Doe twice after separating from the group.
Afterwards, Alden and another male reportedly took Doe’s backpack and rifle back to Alden’s house where they cleaned up evidence before stashing it in an abandoned building nearby.
When questioned about the gun days later, Alden said: “Bro it … blew up when I … shot him in the neck … I had it so close that it just blew up … It blew the barrel up.”
The case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office following investigations by both FBI and Bureau of Indian Affairs.
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