Hamilton woman denies charges related to man's stomping death

HAMILTON — A 28-year-old Hamilton woman is denying allegations she participated with her husband in the stomping death of another man.

Candace E. Sullivan, 28, pleaded not guilty Thursday in Ravalli County District Court to accountability for deliberate homicide and conspiracy to commit deliberate homicide.

Her husband, 25-year-old Richard Michael Sullivan, has pleaded not guilty to deliberate homicide in connection with the Jan. 28 death of 25-year-old Robert Thaut of Hamilton.

Prosecutors say Sullivan and his wife had been drinking at Thaut’s house when Sullivan became angry because Thaut smelled Candace Sullivan’s hair.  

An autopsy found Thaut suffered blunt-force trauma to his abdomen up to two hours before a 911 call was made and could have survived with prompt medical attention. He also suffered blows to the head.