No Federal Charges to be Sought in Death of Henny Scott

BILLINGS – The U.S. Attorney’s Office will not seek federal charges in the death of Henny Scott, a 14-year-old Lame Deer girl whose body was found on Dec. 28, 2018 on the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation. After a thorough investigation by the FBI and Bureau of Indian Affairs, the office has determined it cannot prove any federal crime was committed.

 Henny Scott was last seen on Dec. 8, 2018 when she walked away from a residence in the Muddy Creek area west of Lame Deer. Her body was found 200 yards from the residence. A forensic examination determined Henny Scott died of hypothermia and that the manner of death was accidental. The forensic examination did not find any significant trauma or preexisting disease. In addition, the investigation determined that when Scott was last seen alive, she was wearing light-weight clothing in below-freezing temperatures. The forensic examination also showed that alcohol use was a significant condition of her death.

As in all cases under its consideration, the responsibility of the U.S. Attorney’s Office is to determine whether a federal crime has been committed and whether it can prove all elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt. In this case, the office cannot prove any federal crime was committed when Henny Scott walked away from the residence.

“This case has been a priority of this office, the FBI and BIA. Henny Scott’s death has deeply affected her family and the Northern Cheyenne Tribe and has drawn significant public concern. We send our sympathies to Ms. Scott’s family and to the entire tribal community,” U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.