2 sentenced in Echo Lake murder case

After tears were shed, words of forgiveness spoken, immeasurable loss expressed and the role drugs played emphasized in testimony from family and friends — the final two of four co-defendants involved in the May 2016 fatal stabbing of Wade Rautio were sentenced to prison Thursday in Flathead District Court.

Judge Dan Wilson sentenced 22-year-old David Vincent Toman to 30 years with 15 years suspended at Montana State Prison. Toman was given credit for 401 days served.

Christopher Michael Hansen, 29, received a 50-year sentence at Montana State Prison. Hansen received credit for time served, 402 days.

Both had previously been convicted of felony accountability to deliberate homicide — Toman by entering a no contest plea according to court documents.

The sentencing comes more than a year after Toman led Flathead County Sheriff’s Office deputies to Rautio’s body, telling investigators he had witnessed a murder. Rautio’s body was found in Brown’s Creek off Peter’s Ridge Road near Echo Lake. Rautio had been stabbed 25 times according to a medical examiner’s determination.

The murder was over an alleged debt involving drugs.

In October 2016, a jury found co-defendant Robert Matthew Wittal, 30, of Kalispell guilty of felony deliberate homicide for killing Rautio. He received a 110-year prison sentence. Wittal has since started an appeal process.

In May, co-defendant Melisa Crone, 30, of Evergreen was sentenced to 40 years in prison with 20 suspended for an amended charge of criminal distribution of dangerous drugs (methamphetamine) as per a plea agreement. A charge of felony accountability to deliberate homicide was dropped.

Tomi Rautio — Wade Rautio’s mother — broke down in tears at the podium on Thursday.

“All I can tell you is how I feel. I can’t tell you how it is to lose a child. I don’t think it’s even a reality yet,” she said, but thanked Toman for leading investigators to her son’s body.

While she understood the choices her son made may have led to a tenuous situation, she pleaded that when the brutal violence escalated, “Why didn’t they stop anything? Why didn’t they help him?”

“My child still isn’t coming back,” Tomi Rautio said. “These people still have their lives.”

During her testimony, Toman rested his hand over his mouth while Hansen looked down.

“I’ve tried to hate these people. I’ve tried to be angry with these people. God doesn’t let me do that. He gives me the strength to come up here and do this. I pray that they will let God into their hearts. And as I’ve said to both of them I will forgive them. That’s my healing. I just wish they would have done something to stop this.”

Amber Tillett, Toman’s mother, and several others spoke to her son’s character as a child and a teenager who attended church, was a good worker and a “good kid,” before he reportedly got addicted to methamphetamine.

“This is really hard for me to be up here. I’ve raised the son the best I could,” Tillett said, her voice wavering, her son also becoming emotional.

“I know this thing that happened that I’m so sorry for is not his character at all. He got messed up in meth and everything. I’m not quite sure what all to say,” Tillett said.

Later on she asked the court “to look into my son’s heart and see who he truly is.”

“Again, I’m sorry for what transpired.”

At first it was believed that no one was present to address the court on Hansen’s behalf, until a note was passed to his defense attorney notifying him that Hansen’s mother, Lisa Edwards, was present and wanted to speak.

“I cannot imagine the grief,” Edwards said.

“Christoper wasn’t raised monster. He is not a monster now. He did some things I just don’t comprehend,” Edwards said.

She later added,“He left home a very good worker. An honorable young man. A high school graduate. A loyal friend to a lot of folks.”

Edwards described drugs as “the horror who made him this way.”

“I don’t know how to ask for her [Tomi Rautio’s] forgiveness,” Edwards said.

She went on to describe her son as a quiet person who didn’t display much emotion, yet during her testimony, Hansen’s countenance changed as he wiped away tears.

“He’s not the person I read about and I don’t know how to convey to you the change drugs made in him,” Edwards said.

She asked the court to see potential in her son, before taking her seat behind Tomi Rautio.

While Hansen decided not to address the court, Toman did.

“To the Rautio family, I can’t explain how sorry I am. For the past year I’ve been haunted by those events that occurred,” Toman said. “It will haunt me for a very, very long time. I hope you find it in your heart to forgive me and I’m sorry. That’s all I have your honor.”

Reporter Hilary Matheson may be reached at 758-4431 or hmatheson@dailyinterlake.com.