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Heart Butte woman charged for January death of Young Running Crane

Posted at 4:00 PM, Sep 20, 2018
and last updated 2018-09-20 18:00:38-04

GREAT FALLS – Shayanna Marie England of Heart Butte has been charged for the January death of Eljay Young Running Crane.

England has been charged with involuntary manslaughter, and assault resulting in serious bodily injury.

Eljay’s grandfather Jay Young Running Crane says justice has somewhat been served in the case.

“For us, it is about time something is happening,” Young Running Crane said.

According to court documents, on or about January 16, England committed the act of reckless driving that caused the death of Eljay.

She is also accused of assaulting another person that resulted in serious bodily injury.

Young Running Crane says it has been frustrating to get any information about the case.

“Bureau of Indian Affairs can not give us any information, when we call there they say it is an ongoing investigation. Especially for my mother and the other family members, it is just like, what is happening, is she being charged? Is she going to jail for a crime? They wouldn’t really tell us any so it has definitely been really frustrating for us,” Young Running Crane said.

England is scheduled to be arraigned in federal court in Great Falls on Tuesday.

We will update you as we get more information.

Reporting by Margaret DeMarco for MTN News

(JANUARY 17, 2018) The Montana Highway Patrol says that one person died in what was initially reported as a vehicle crash in Pondera County on Tuesday. According to the MHP, it happened along Heart Butte Road near Sweat Lodge Road at about 5:30 a.m.

Family members have told us that the person who died is Eljay Young Running Crane, who was 20 years old.

The following message was posted on the Heart Butte School Facebook page on Wednesday morning: “There are grief counselors available at the school for students and community members if anyone would like to visit come up.”

The Montana Highway Patrol has declined to release any details, but says that the Bureau of Indian Affairs is assisting with the investigation. We will update you as we get more details.