Kila man accused of brutal assault sent for mental evaluation
A Kila man stands accused of a vicious beating and sexual assault of a woman in several incidents late last year.
Alexander Kim Torppe was scheduled to appear Aug. 1 before Flathead District Court Judge Heidi Ulbricht for a pretrial hearing, but he was ordered to the Montana State Hospital July 2 for a mental health evaluation after a request by his court-appointed attorney, Alisha Backus.
It was to be done in 60 days or less and a decision must be ordered within 90 days.
Torppe is facing four felony counts for sexual intercourse without consent, aggravated kidnapping, aggravated assault and assault with a weapon. Torppe, who pleaded not guilty, is scheduled for a jury trial Sept. 10.
According to the affidavit of probable cause filed by Flathead County Sheriff’s Office Detectives Brandy Hinzman and Bret Childers, on Dec. 24, 2017, the victim knocked on her parents’ door at about 7 a.m. The court documents state that they found her badly injured and described her as “unrecognizable.” She was taken to Kalispell Regional Medical Center’s emergency room and then the intensive care unit.
According to the documents, she was diagnosed with a lacerated liver, collapsed lung and bleeding in the brain, as well as bruises and cuts all over her body. Her eyes were swollen shut and clumps of her hair were missing.
The parents told detectives they hadn’t seen her in months and suspected Torppe was responsible.
According to court documents, the victim awoke two days later, Dec. 26, and stated that “Alex did it.”
Torppe was found later at a Conrad Drive residence and arrested. He was in the Flathead County jail before his transfer to the state hospital in Deer Lodge.
County detectives spoke to the victim March 2 after she regained memories of the months prior to her hospitalization. She said Torppe took her to his home in a remote area on Browns Meadow Road.
According to documents, the victim said Torppe became controlling and physically abusive, and she felt she couldn’t leave the residence because he repeatedly threatened to kill her or her family members if she left. The court documents show that she also reported being assaulted several times, which medical providers confirmed, saying not all of her injuries were fresh.
Additional information in the affidavit indicated Torppe allegedly forced the woman to have sex.
When detectives questioned Torppe, he allegedly admitted beating the victim and causing some of her injuries. He also claimed to have videotaped beating her and intended to show it to other people.
Torppe is facing a maximum total of 240 years in state prison.
Reporter Scott Shindledecker can be reached at (406) 758-4441 or sshindledecker@dailyinterlake.com.