Authorities initially believed a South Dakota woman’s murder was a suicide. Now, the murderer will spend the rest of his life behind bars.
Seventh Judicial Circuit Judge Robert Mandel sentenced Dion Bordeaux, 28, to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the shooting death of Jeanette Jumping Eagle, 22. Bordeaux was found guilty and convicted of first-degree murder.
“Nothing will ever be right for the family, especially with Bordeaux not taking responsibility for his actions,” said Mandel during the sentencing hearing, according to KEVN.
During the wee hours of Jan. 1, 2020, Rapid City police responded to Microtel Inn and Suites after receiving reports of a woman with a gunshot wound to the head. Upon their arrival, officers found the victim, and she was declared dead at the scene. During the investigation, authorities discovered two male individuals were present in the hotel room during the shooting incident. Bordeaux was identified as one of the men who had also been in a relationship with Jumping Eagle.
Initially, authorities established the cause of death as suicide, but after recovering more evidence, they determined the crime scene appeared staged. Later on, investigators determined Bordeaux had shot Jumping Eagle. In addition, family members told authorities the victim would not leave her three children as orphans, especially after Jumping Eagle’s mother had recently passed away.
Authorities arrested Bordeaux while incarcerated for an unrelated charge of aggravated assault.
"I knew my sister would not do that to herself,” said the victim’s sister Paulina Ghost, as she described how Jumping Eagle loved life and loved her babies, reported People.
The family told authorities Jumping Eagle intended to return to her children’s father, Brent Waters. The victim had met the defendant after Waters and Jumping Eagle broke off their eight-year relationship.
Bordeaux opted not to make a statement but continued to maintain his innocence.
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