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Lake County Man Pleads Guilty to Killing Wife

Adrian McElderry pleaded guilty Thursday to mitigated deliberate homicide and obstructing justice

By Dillon Tabish

POLSON — A Lake County man has pleaded guilty to shooting his wife and then trying to cover up the crime by saying she’d committed suicide.

KERR-AM in Polson reports 32-year-old Adrian McElderry pleaded guilty Thursday to mitigated deliberate homicide and obstructing justice for the November death of 29-year-old RaeLynn Charlo.

District Judge Kim Christopher is not bound by the plea agreement that recommends McElderry be sentenced to 60 years in prison when he is sentenced on July 2.

Court records say McElderry called 911 early on Nov. 18 and reported his wife had shot herself after getting upset over his drinking.

Authorities determined McElderry’s statements did not match the evidence. An autopsy found Charlo had been shot between the eyes.

McElderry was initially charged with deliberate homicide and tampering with or fabricating evidence.