Woman charged in murder case accepts plea deal

Heather Meeker’s tampering with evidence charge in the murder of Anthony Andrew Walthers was dropped in Flathead District Court on Thursday and she was released from custody.

Meeker’s release was the result of a plea agreement between her attorney, Emily Lamson, and Deputy County Attorney John Donovan.

Meeker pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor bail jumping charge as part of the plea agreement, and was sentenced to six months in the Flathead County Detention Center by Judge Dan Wilson. Because Meeker had been incarcerated for 213 days, she was released for time served.

The bail-jumping charge against Meeker arose when she failed to appear for a court hearing July 19, 2017, regarding her alleged connection with the April 2017 murder of Walthers.

Cecil Rice, Meeker’s boyfriend at the time of the murder, was found guilty last month of deliberate homicide of Walthers.

Meeker testified against Rice at his jury trial in December, telling jurors she believed Rice had pushed Walthers off the Old Steel Bridge in Evergreen into the Flathead River last April.

During the trial, she admitted lying to law enforcement originally to protect Rice.

“I didn’t want him to get into trouble because he is the father of my kids,” Meeker told jurors.

Meeker had also admitted to throwing a backpack believed to be Walthers’ out of Rice’s van, but said she did it only because Rice told her to and she was scared what would happen if she didn’t.

Rice remains in custody at the Flathead County Detention Center. He is scheduled to be sentenced in front of Judge Dan Wilson in Flathead District Court Thursday, Jan. 25.

Reporter Breeana Laughlin can be reached at 758-4441 or blaughlin@dailyinterlake.com.