Mika Matters
Important Update to Mika's Case!
We need your support and action for the pursuit of justice for our girl,
Mika Westwolf.
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On the morning of October 30th, 2024 in Polson, Mt the pre-conference trial hearing for Sunny White was held. That morning, Sunny White pleaded guilty to “vehicular homicide and incidents involving another person."
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White was also charged with two counts of criminal child endangerment and one count of criminal possession of dangerous drugs; which were dismissed as part of the plea deal. Sunny White was under the influence of fentanyl and meth when she struck Mika with her vehicle leaving her on the side of the road.
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The total sentence could include up to 40 years in prison with substantial fines. If the stars all aligned in White’s favor in her sentencing, White would only receive five years or less. This is not acceptable to me or my family.
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To learn more about Sunny White's beliefs and previous actions:
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We, the family of Mika, initially hoped for a jury trial. We wanted to bring more visibility to Mika’s case, and continue to pressure Lake County to work (as it should)with no racial biases. This is one of the many issues that we,as indigenous people, still have to still face, in this country, in 2024!
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I am asking you that if you care about the Missing and Murdered Indigenous People and my daughters’ case to please write a letter to Katie Campbell (Sergeant of the Kalispell Region Probation and Parole Board). It is Katie Campbell’s duty to write the final report for Sunny White’s sentencing,that the judge will read. We hope that with our families testimonies (at the sentencing), and the letters that you will provide; Sunny White will receive the maximum amount of years and any chance of early parole will be denied.
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Please write letters , email, or call:
Katie Campbell
Sergeant, Kalispell Region Probation and Parole Bureau
kcampbell2@mt.gov
Office: 406-872-6254
Cell:406-212-3284
36235 Kerr Dam Rd
Polson, MT 59860
COR.MT.GOV
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Victim Impact Statement please include at the top of your Statement to the Court:
Primary victims name: Mika J. Westwolf
Defendant name: Sunny K. White
Date of crime: March 31,2023
Location of crime: Hwy 93 North of Arlee, MT near mile marker 20
Deadline for calls/letters is December 13th, 2025
If you can please write a letter, email, or call Katie Campbell in support of why Mika’s life mattered, it would mean a lot to all parties involved. In the end, my ultimate goal is to get justice for my daughter, Mika, and try to get the sentencing laws changed in the state of Montana. Right now, the penalties do not work in favor of the victim. People get more time for theft, burglary, and drug convictions than taking a human life.
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If there are any hurdles stopping you from writing ,emailing, or calling Katie Campbell, please reach out to me. If you are local and need stamps, envelopes, access to a computer, or anything else I will do my best to help you get whatever you need. Please reach out over the MikaMatters website or contact me personally.
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We also invite everyone (if able) to join us outside the Lake County courthouse in Polson, MT at 10am on 1/31/25. The courtroom is small and priority is given to the family of Mika. We will come together, wearing red, and show our collective strength in demanding full accountability. Please share this post!
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Thank you for your steadfast support,
Carissa Heavy Runner (mother of Mika)
With gratitude and determination, justice will prevail in The Mika Matters Movement!
Mika Josephine Westwolf
Moht-ta-pai-yissaapii
"Everybody looks at her"
Mika Josephine Westwolf was killed on March 31st 2023 north of Arlee, MT by a driver in the early morning hours. We are in the process of seeking justice for Mika with the local authorities, whose cooperation has been frustrating, at best, so far.
Why are we seeking justice? Because Mika’s life mattered. She was a beautiful human being with so much to live for and contribute to this world for years to come.
This is an awful tragedy for our family. Mika’s hopes and dreams were taken away by this perpetrator who committed this crime. This person did not even brake or try to avoid hitting her. Instead, the person drove off and did not even try to provide any aid to our girl, leaving her on the side of the road.
We need your support as we must proceed with our tribal advocates/friends that have been helping since the beginning. We are trying to find answers and work with local authorities to find justice for Mika Westwolf. We will not give up. We will not stop. We will not let this be another story of “just another dead Indian” or that she was somehow to blame for this atrocity. Someone committed this crime, and we will not allow this to become another unsolved MMIW case.
We are doing whatever we can to help other families facing this situation and bring awareness to the larger public about this systematic failure of MMIW. Our lives matter as Native Americans.
Why? Because each individual who is missing or murdered has family who love them and are continuing to grieve. There is no closure for us.
Our girl may be gone, but we will keep her memory alive. Justice for Mika Westwolf will happen, and we will not rest until it is met.