Taylor Gardipee Walker, Involuntary Manslaughter, Montana 2020

GREAT FALLS, MT – A Harlem man has admitted to drinking and driving a four-wheeler when it rolled and crashed on the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation, killing his passenger.

Taylor Gardipee Walker, 22, pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter. Walker faces a maximum eight years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release.

According to court documents, on December 31, 2019, and into the early morning hours of January 1, 2020, Walker was drinking to the point of intoxication. At about 3 a.m., Walker and his passenger, identified as Jane Doe, went for a ride on a four-wheeler on Rodeo Drive, with Walker driving. Walker lost control of the ATV, causing it to roll over and sending him and the victim onto the pavement.

Walker was seen fleeing the scene on foot. Law enforcement officers and emergency responders arrived and found the victim unresponsive and barely breathing. The victim ultimately was transported to a Great Falls hospital, where she died from her injuries later that day.

Officers found Walker’s wallet at the scene and began knocking on doors of local residences associated with Walker. Officers located Walker hiding in a bedroom closet of a residence. Walker, who had blood on his clothing and abrasions on his hands, was arrested for failing to report an accident. After initially saying he was not the driver, Walker admitted he had been driving the ATV and had lost control and crashed.

The investigation determined that Walker had a blood alcohol concentration of 0.0145 percent approximately three and a half hours after the crash. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jared Cobell is prosecuting the case, which was investigated by the FBI, Fort Belknap Law Enforcement Services, Blaine County Sheriff’s Office, and Montana Highway Patrol.

Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided over the case and set sentencing for February 25, 2021. Walker was released pending sentencing.

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