Man gets 40 years for Arlee murder

POLSON — The murder case involving a couple who lived for months with the body of a dead relative hidden inside their Arlee trailer came to a close in Lake County District Court Wednesday in Polson, with the husband receiving a 40-year prison sentence.

Stephen Seese, 24, was charged with accountability for negligent homicide in the February 2016 beating death of his nephew, 18-year-old Richard Warner. Lake County District Court Judge James A. Manley imposed the maximum sentence sought by prosecutors, despite the defense team’s requests for a shorter, treatment-based punishment. He must serve 10 years before being eligible for parole.

“In this country people are treated and sentenced based on their acts,” the veteran judge said, adding that Seese’s actions were as “calloused and depraved” as anything he’d ever seen.

According to court documents, Warner’s body was discovered on June 2, buried under a pile of household clutter in the bathroom of the trailer that Seese once shared with his wife, Kassandra, and two small children. The family reportedly lived with the decomposing corpse for more than two months before abandoning the trailer and moving to Idaho, documents state.

Both husband and wife were eventually arrested for involvement in the murder. They told law enforcement the killing was the result of an argument that had spiraled out of control. However, as the case progressed, each accused the other of striking the fatal blow.

Hampered by a lack of evidence due to the condition of the body, prosecutors arranged a plea deal in which Stephen bore the brunt of the punishment.

Kassandra Seese was sentenced on Nov. 23 to five years in the department of corrections, a punishment which continues to bewilder the victim’s family members.

“I don’t agree with anything that has happened in this case,” Tabitha Warner, the stepmother of Richard Warner and sister-in-law of Stephen Seese said during sentencing.

Warner said she was offended by the “slap on the wrist” given to Kassandra Seese, but also didn’t want a full 40-year sentence for her brother-in-law, who she said suffers from severe mental illness.

“That’s where I’m conflicted,” she said. “He needs punishment, but also in-depth psychiatric help.”

Seese’s rationality emerged as a point of contention during his sentencing.

Prosecuting attorney Steven Eschenbacher presented several witnesses that described Seese as abusive toward Warner, his nephew who lived with him as a dependent.

Seven Hobbs employed both men at an auto-detailing shop in Missoula. Hobbs said Seese was a pathological liar and treated Warner like a slave.

This behavior progressed to a point of violence, according to Richard Porter-Smith, who took over the business from Hobbs. Porter-Smith said during testimony that he fired Seese within 24 hours of meeting him, but continued to employ Warner for several months.

“He was such a great kid,” Porter-Smith said. “But he was treated horribly, very, very horribly.”

After learning that Warner would get beat up and mistreated at home, Porter-Smith said he almost begged Warner to stay with him.

“I didn’t feel it was a good situation,” Porter-Smith said.

The many red flags preceding Warner’s death consumed much of the courtroom testimony.

Stephen’s mother Tina Medrano said she sought mental help for Seese many times during his childhood.

“Everyone kept telling me that until he did something seriously illegal, there was nothing I could do,” she said. “Now this court is in a position to do that.”

Defense attorney Lisa Kauffman, a child welfare specialist, argued that Seese’s troubled past was grounds for an early release into a group home.

“I think to be even talking about 40 years is callous disregard,” she said. “I don’t think we should give up on Stephen yet.”

Upon questioning, psychologist Laura Kirsch acknowledged that Seese suffers from several personality disorders that make it difficult to handle emotions. She noted, however, that such disorders were difficult to treat and did not qualify as an excuse for committing a crime.

“If they were, we’d have nobody in prison,” she said.

Eschenbacher used this assessment to conclude his argument. He said the case was difficult in many ways, but the circumstances surrounding the murder remain a brutal reality.

“Every day they would Febreze the curtains to reduce the smell,” he said. “That was their ritual. I don’t even know words that can explain that.”

Before receiving his sentence, Seese read a statement to his family members.

“I hope one day you forgive me enough to talk to me at least once,” he said. “So I can let you know everything that happened.”