Final suspect convicted in Echo Lake murder case

The final of four people charged in the drug-charged murder of 35-year-old Wade Rautio admitted on April 27 by way of no contest to the part he played in the killing.

David Toman, 21, was convicted of accountability to deliberate homicide in Flathead District Court after he admitted that, should the prosecution take their evidence against him to trial, he would most likely be found guilty.

Toman’s sentencing has been scheduled for July 13 at which time, in accordance with a plea agreement with the state, his attorney, Sean Hinchey, is expected to request a 30 year sentence to the Montana State Prison with 15 years suspended.

The plea agreement between Toman and the state is binding, meaning, should the judge decide not to the follow the agreement, Toman would have the option to withdraw his plea and continue on to trial.

According to court documents, Toman drove Rautio and his convicted killer, Robert Wittal, to Echo Lake where Wittal stabbed Rautio to death over a drug-related argument.

On March 24, Toman admitted to his involvement in the murder but claimed he had no knowledge of Wittal’s intentions when he drove them into the woods, leading Judge Dan Wilson to reject his original guilty plea.

Toman also confessed to having struck Rautio when he attempted to escape before Wittal began his assault.

Wilson asked Toman if he believed that Wittal would have killed Rautio without his help.

“I honestly don’t know. I’m sorry,” Toman said.

“As you sit here today,” Wilson continued, “do you believe you helped Mr. Wittal kill Wade Rautio?”

After a pause, Toman said no.

ACCORDING TO court documents, Toman initially reported the murder two weeks after it occurred and led police to where Wittal had stashed Rautio’s body under a log in a creek near Echo Lake.

Toman and his co-defendant, Chris Hansen, 29, testified that Wittal did the stabbing, using a long and thick knife, which he dropped in Brown’s Creek before Hansen allegedly handed him a smaller knife to finish the killing.

A medical examiner determined Rautio had been stabbed 25 times with blows that punctured a lung and severed his carotid arteries and jugular vein.

Reporter Mary Cloud Taylor can be reached at 758-4459 or mtaylor@dailyinterlake.com.