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Richard Peterson/AP/PA

Montana woman killed baby girl and hid her body in a bin

The woman admitted punching the baby on three occasions.

A WOMAN BEAT a 13-month-old girl under her care to death on a rural Montana Indian reservation, threw the baby’s body into a bin and reported her missing before confessing to the crime a day later, a federal investigator has testified.

Janelle Red Dog, 42, admitted striking the baby on three occasions, but it’s uncertain if that’s what killed her, her lawyer said.

Red Dog got scared after Kenzley Olson died, so she disposed of the body in a trash container several blocks from her house in the town of Poplar, attorney Mary Zemyan said. She later reported the girl missing.

Drug epidemic 

Red Dog appeared in tribal court yesterday on the Fort Peck Reservation, about 20 miles from the US-Canada border, and was ordered back into custody without bond, court officials said. Tribal prosecutors are expected to charge her by Tuesday, when she is scheduled for another hearing.

It was the second major event in recent weeks to rattle the sparsely populated reservation, home to the Assiniboine and Sioux tribes. In late February, a man allegedly abducted and sexually assaulted a four-year-old girl from a park in the reservation town of Wolf Point. The girl was found alive several days later.

Fort Peck Tribal Chairman Floyd Azure said Kenzley’s death and the recent kidnapping stemmed from a rising drug epidemic that the reservation must address.

“What it’s coming down to is our society is basically allowing this to be the norm,” he said. “We are allowing this to happen by not speaking out.”

Investigators haven’t publicly linked either case to drugs, but Azure told The Associated Press the use of methamphetamine was at the root of both crimes.

Dumpster

Bureau of Indian Affairs investigator Ken Trottier testified in tribal court that Red Dog confessed to punching Kenzley several times on Tuesday, killing her, KTMF-TV reported. She then put the girl’s body in a duffel bag and threw her in a dumpster, he said.

Child Killed A sheriff's department vehicle is parked outside the house where one-year-old Kenzley Olson was staying when she was beaten to death. Richard Peterson / AP/PA Richard Peterson / AP/PA / AP/PA

When Red Dog reported Kenzley missing hours later, authorities issued an alert that said the girl was kidnapped, possibly by a man and woman from North Dakota. The pair turned out to not be involved, and the alert was cancelled after Red Dog reportedly confessed and drew a map to Kenzley’s body.

Prosecutors filed an affidavit outlining the allegations Thursday, but the chief judge overseeing the case has not released it.

Zemyan said Kenzley had been under Red Dog’s care since the girl’s mother dropped her off about two weeks ago and then failed to return. Many details on the events leading up to Kenzley’s death remain uncertain, she said.

“The only clear facts are that the baby was found in the dumpster, and Janelle told them where to find her, and that Janelle at some point struck the child. Those things don’t add up to murder,” Zemyan said.

Azure said Kenzley’s mother was in jail when her daughter was killed. That was confirmed by the tribal jail, although the charges against her were not available.

Attempts by The Associated Press to reach the mother and other members of the girl’s family were unsuccessful. Funeral services are scheduled for tomorrow.

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12 Comments
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    Mute John
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    Jul 22nd 2015, 8:26 AM

    Another family destroyed by the curse of suicide. RIP.

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    Mute Dave Meagher
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    Jul 22nd 2015, 9:56 AM

    A what?? This is will go down as a suicide stat. In Ireland they are covered up. I know of 7 suicides that have been classed as accidents . I know I’m going to get red thumped for time and a place etc. but we need to be doing more as a society to help stop tragedies like this and avoid other families having to suffer a similar horror.

    Sorry for what his loved ones have suffered and my thoughts are very much with them.

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    Mute Dave Meagher
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    Jul 22nd 2015, 9:57 AM

    * This is will NOT go down as a suicide stat

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    Mute lunadoran
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    Jul 22nd 2015, 11:56 AM

    Yes majority of suicides go down as death by drowning, asphyxiation ect. I don’t think we’ll ever be able to count them properly.

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    Mute William Grogan
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    Jul 22nd 2015, 5:55 PM

    Ditto single person car accidents

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    Mute glenoir1
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    Jul 22nd 2015, 8:07 PM

    Dave meagher youre right this is so sad. but what you say is true so not true reflection of how many pooor people

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    Mute Dee M
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    Jul 22nd 2015, 8:40 AM

    So sad, we were there on Monday and the first thing my husband had mentioned was how many people had gone over on those cliffs. Very tragic, god love his family and friends.

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    Mute catherine
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    Jul 22nd 2015, 10:09 AM

    My son went fishing one day and his line snagged. He went further than he should have and went into the water. His clothes got really heavy and he was getting pulled under. He fought as hard as he could and managed to get back out. He lost his fishing gear in the struggle. When he pulled up to my door he was completely soaked freezing and shaking violently. He couldn’t stop shaking for hours. All he kept saying was” if I couldn’t have gotten out everyone would have thought I killed myself. “

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    Mute Barbara Edwards
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    Jul 22nd 2015, 10:31 AM

    Oh Catherine what an horrific experience for him and you. glad he’s ok.

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    Mute Laura Nì Fhalliùn
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    Jul 22nd 2015, 8:38 AM

    So tragic. My thoughts and prayers are with his family. R.I.P

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    Mute mary carey
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    Jul 22nd 2015, 9:38 AM

    Agree with James! What a stupid ignorant comment. You clearly have no insight in to suicide. As stated above the man probably didn’t have the ability to see or think outside the pain he was in. Or as happens with many suicide victims – he thought about those he was leaving behind and felt they were better off without him.

    Stupid comment. And for those suffering with suicidal thoughts, reading that comment – it only serves to heighten their sense of worthlessness.

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    Mute mary carey
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    Jul 22nd 2015, 9:45 AM

    Sorry original comment was removed. Mine is null now.

    May the man Rest in Peace

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    Mute glenoir1
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    Jul 22nd 2015, 8:09 PM

    two young girls one only 18 a couple of wks ago so tragic

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    Mute Graham Matthews
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    Jul 22nd 2015, 8:50 AM

    Terrible tragedy, my thoughts with the family , rip

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    Mute lunadoran
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    Jul 22nd 2015, 11:54 AM
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