Sentencing pushed back for woman formerly charged with murder

ALEXANDRIA — The sentencing of a woman formerly charged with murder in the third degree has been pushed back.

Montana Hedstrom, 31, was convicted of a third degree controlled substance crime after a trial in September, and was set to be sentenced on the charge on Feb. 15.

Hedstrom appeared at the hearing in Douglas County District Court, but the sentencing did not take place because of a memorandum filed by Hedstrom's attorney on Feb. 14.

Judge Timothy Churchwell had not seen the 11-page document before Wednesday's hearing, and said there was not enough time for him to go over it during the hearing itself.

The subject of the memorandum was Hedstrom's criminal history score.

Charges were filed against Hedstrom and Rachel Rae MacMillan, 25, last year following the drug overdose death of an Elbow Lake man, who was found not breathing in his home on March 2, 2021.

He died several days later at a St. Cloud hospital of an overdose, according to a press release from the Grant County Sheriff's Office.

Rock-like substances in the man's possession subsequently tested positive for fentanyl and heroin, the statement of probable cause read.

Through examination of text messages, interviews and other efforts, investigators determined that Hedstrom and MacMillan allegedly provided the man with the drugs that led to his death. The transaction took place in the Alexandria Walmart parking lot.

On Feb. 11, 2022, MacMillan was interviewed at the Otter Tail County Jail, and she admitted that a drug exchange did occur on March 2, 2021, the statement of probable cause read, adding that Hedstrom texted the man to arrange the sale.

At a hearing in August, MacMillan testified that while she did give the drugs to the man, she did not orchestrate the arrangement, and she did not know a drug deal was going to take place.

MacMillan also testified that Hedstrom was the one who made the arrangements and later said the substance was fake heroin.

MacMillan was previously set to go to trial for the charges against her, but she pleaded guilty to a controlled substance crime in Douglas County District Court last August.

MacMillan was sentenced to 46 months in the correctional facility at Shakopee in a hearing that took place on Thursday, Nov. 17, 2022. She was also given 297 days credit for time served, and must pay several fees amounting to $135.

Charges of murder in the third degree have been dropped against both women.

Hedstrom was approved for release to a drug and alcohol treatment facility last month.

A new sentencing hearing date for Hedstrom has not been posted as of Wednesday morning.