18-year-old’s body found in river, federal officials say. Now 17-year-old is sentenced

A 17-year-old is going to prison after pleading guilty to killing a man in Montana, federal officials said.

In May, an 18-year-old’s body was found in the Little Big Horn River in Crow Agency, according to Nov. 6 news release by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

After conducting an autopsy, officials uncovered two bullets, prosecutors said.

In April, the victim’s family last saw him walking toward the river with a group of males and Orrin Richard Alden III, officials said.

On the day of his disappearance, bystanders saw the victim with a black backpack carrying drugs and a large amount of cash, officials said.

The group, including Alden and the victim, had been drinking and smoking weed before walking to the river, officials said.

Alden and another individual in the group overheard that the victim was carrying cash, officials said.

Alden and the other male got separated from the group with the victim and eventually a gunshot was heard, officials said.

After the first gunshot, Alden was seen carrying a rifle before the victim said “You shot me, you shot me,” while grabbing his side, officials said.

Bystanders then heard a second gunshot before Alden joined the rest of the group where he was seen laughing, officials said.

Later, the group went to Alden’s house where he was seen carrying the victim’s backpack before putting his clothes in a black bag, officials said.

Another person in the group asked if he could call an ambulance, to which the male who was with Alden during the shooting replied, “no,” prosecutors said.

The black bag holding the clothing was later left in an abandoned building near Alden’s home, officials said.

In September, Alden pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and use of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, officials said.

McClatchy News reached out to Alden’s lawyer on Nov. 7 for a statement and was awaiting a response.

He was sentenced to 29 years and seven months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, the release said.

Crow Agency is about a 60-mile drive southeast of Billings.

This story was originally published November 7, 2024 at 1:55 PM with the headline "18-year-old’s body found in river, federal officials say. Now 17-year-old is sentenced."