Charges against Kelsey Staigmiller have been amended to include deliberate homicide, criminal endangerment and criminal mischief.

The Cascade County Attorney’s office filed the amended complaint on May 27 to include the three additional felony counts related to the May 18 incident that led to the death of Sarah Bailey, a downtown business owner and tattoo artist.

Staigmiller is scheduled to be arraigned in district court on June 2.

Prosecutors added the deliberate homicide charge since Staigmiller “attempted to commit, committed, or is legally
accountable for the attempt or commission of robbery and in the course of the robbery or flight thereafter, [Staigmiller] or any person legally accountable for the crime caused the death of another human being, namely Sarah Bailey.

If convicted, the charge carried a maximum punishment of death, life imprisonment or imprisonment for not less than 10 years or more than 100 years.

Victim, suspect identified in May 18 fatal downtown Great Falls incident

Staigmiller was initially charged with felony counts of robbery, theft and burglary as law enforcement continued their investigation and Staigmiller was taken into custody in Missoula County and has since been transferred to the Cascade County jail.

The robbery charge carries a maximum punishment of imprisonment for not less than two years or more than 40 years and may be fined up to $50,000. The theft charge carries a maximum fine of $50,000, imprisonment of up to 10 years, or both.

The criminal endangerment charge was filed for a witness who had attempted to help Bailey get untangled from the seatbelt of the vehicle at some point during the altercation with Staigmiller and was also almost run over as Staigmiller was driving away, according to the Cascade County Attorney’s Office.

Staigmiller, 31, was booked on a $500,000 bond after Great Falls police officers were dispatched to a report of a disturbance near 6th Street South and Central Avenue at the Roberts Apartments around 6 p.m. May 18.

Staigmiller was reportedly causing a disturbance in the building, trying to get into apartments, offering to prostitute herself for drugs and alcohol and after being kicked out of the building, carjacked 50-year-old Bailey, resulting in her death.

Shortly after the initial incident, Bailey was found in the street near the intersection of 5th Street North and 1st Avenue North.

Lt. Matt Fleming of the GFPD said that first responders rendered life saving measures but were unsuccessful.

Fleming said they have no evidence at this point that Staigmiller and Bailey knew each other.

Staigmiller fled Great Falls in Bailey’s vehicle and was located a few hours later by Missoula County Sheriff’s Office deputies near Bonner, according to GFPD.

GFPD said at 9:11 p.m. May 18 that Staigmiller and Bailey’s vehicle had been located.

“Staigmiller was not initially cooperative with the MCSO deputies, who applied several less-lethal tools and techniques to bring her into custody,” according to GFPD.

Staigmiller does not have a felony criminal history in Cascade County, according to County Attorney Josh Racki.

She appears to be from Great Falls based on a search of local court documents, social media and local news reports.

“We extend our most sincere condolences to the friends and family of Sarah Bailey, as well as the others in the community who have been impacted by this senseless crime. We would also like to express our gratitude to the Cascade County Sheriff’s Office, the Missoula County Sheriff’s Office, and our other public safety partners who assisted in this investigation,” GFPD said in a release.

Community members and downtown business owners have expressed shock and sadness at Bailey’s death.

A USPS mailman was collecting signatures on condolence cards along his downtown route on May 20 for Bailey’s family.

Staigmiller’s immediate and extended family asked The Electric on May 21 to release this statement on behalf of the family:

“Kelsey’s family would like to extend their heartfelt condolences to Sarah Bailey, her family and this community. She was a beautiful artist who touched many lives. Sarah was an innocent victim and there are no words to express the pain and grief Kelsey has caused Sarah’s family and the community. We pray for peace and hope for all who have been affected by this tragic event.”