Original article no longer available
The Associated Press
Published: 10/20/11
Thursday, Oct. 20, 2011
NEZPERCE, Idaho A 27-year-old Kamiah man told a judge his grandmother died of an apparent heart attack this spring and he was distraught and on several antidepressants when he wrapped her body in a tarp and threw it in the Clearwater River.
The Lewiston Tribune reports Justin Hietala pleaded guilty Wednesday to failure to report a death.
Second District Judge Michael J. Griffin said he would wait until after a presentence investigation is completed on Dec. 21 to decide if he will accept the plea agreement.
Hietala told the judge his 72-year-old grandmother, Lavina Hietala, died on April 1. Her body was found in the Snake River a month later. While investigators could not determine her cause of death, officials said they believe she died of natural causes.