'I pushed him and I took off'

MISSOULA — A Kalispell woman on trial for killing her newlywed husband at Glacier National Park told the FBI “I pushed him and I took off.”

The statement by 22-year-old Jordan Graham was heard on Wednesday, the third day of her trial. She is charged with first-degree murder and second-degree murder in the July 7 death of Cody Johnson, 25.

Flathead County Deputy Coroner Richard Sine testified that Johnson had an 8-inch fracture on his forehead and was not wearing a wedding ring when his body was found.

Jordan Graham’s statement was in a recording made by an FBI agent in Kalispell on July 16.

Graham has said she and Johnson argued in the park and he accidentally fell when she tried to remove his hand from her arm.

Johnson was reported missing on July 8. Graham concocted a story that her husband of eight days had gone off with friends and had not returned. His body was found by Graham near the Loop on July 11.

In the recording, Graham calmly told FBI agent Stacey Smiedala that she and Johnson were having a fight and decided to drive to Glacier to discuss their issues. While venturing off trail near the Loop, Graham said, Johnson grabbed her arm. Graham then took Johnson’s hand off her and pushed him over the cliff. 

“It was a quick thing, I just wanted to get him off me,” she said in the recorded interview. “I don’t feel like I killed him; I mean I pushed him, but it was an accident.” 

Sherry Johnson testified that her son was excited to marry Graham. She also said she tried to console Graham during a prayer service after her son’s death.

“I put my arm around her and said everything will be OK,” Sherry Johnson said tearfully. “Cody’s with Jesus now.”

Graham didn’t respond, Sherry Johnson testified.

Graham’s trial resumed Thursday.

On Tuesday, a friend of Graham’s testified that she showed little emotion when she located his body in Glacier National Park days after she told authorities he had driven off with friends and disappeared.

Graham said after finding the body that now a funeral could be held and “the cops can be out of it,” friend Hannah Sherrill testified. 

Graham, her mother, brother and friends drove to the park twice in the days after Johnson, 25, went missing on July 7. Graham climbed down a steep slope to a ledge below the roadway and she called out that she spotted the body in a ravine below the cliff. 

“And then after that she didn’t really show any emotion,” friend Cecilia Lewellen said.