HELENA, Mont. – Federal prosecutors may seek the death penalty for an 18-year-old man charged in the deaths of a husband and wife who authorities say stopped to offer him help on the side of the road on Montana's Crow Indian Reservation.
A new grand jury indictment filed Friday includes death as a possible punishment if Jesus Deniz Mendoza of Worland, Wyoming, is convicted of two counts of first-degree murder and carjacking that resulted in death.
The original indictment filed Aug. 6 sought life in prison for the shooting deaths of 51-year-old Jason Shane 47-year-old Tana Shane in the town of Pryor. Their daughter, Jorah Shane, was wounded in the July 26 shooting.
Investigators say the family stopped to help a man who claimed to be having car trouble. They say Deniz demanded money and opened fire after they said they had none.
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This story has been clarified to show federal prosecutors might seek the death penalty, not are seeking the death penalty.
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