A Montana grand jury on Thursday indicted a Kalispell woman accused of killing her newlywed husband by pushing him off a cliff in Glacier National Park.
Jordan Linn Graham, 22, was indicted on charges of first degree murder, second degree murder, and making false statements, according to court documents obtained by The Huffington Post.
The grand jury indictment accuses Graham of "knowingly and unlawfully" killing her husband, Cody Lee Johnson, 25, with "malice aforethought and premeditation."
READ THE INDICTMENT
Prosecutors said Graham reported Johnson missing to police on July 8. She allegedly said she last saw him the previous day, when he told her he was going for a drive with a friend from out of town.
On July 11, 2013, Graham reported to police she had found her husband's body at Glacier National Park, below a popular viewpoint called the "The Loop." Graham told police she had decided to check the area because, "it was a place he wanted to see before he died," according to the arrest affidavit.
On July 16, authorities questioned Graham, during which she allegedly changed her story.
"Graham admitted she had lied about the death of her husband ... Graham stated on the evening of July 7, 2013, she and Johnson had an argument, were upset and both had decided to travel to Glacier National Park ... Graham stated their argument intensified ... She stated Johnson grabbed her by the arm. Graham turned and removed Johnson's hand from her arm. After removing Johnson's hand from her arm, Graham stated she could have just walked away, but due to her anger, she pushed Johnson with both hands in the back and as a result, he fell face first off the cliff," the affidavit states.
The affidavit further states that Graham had texted a friend the day of her husband's death and said she was having "second thoughts" about their marriage, which had occurred just eight days earlier.
When Graham's friend said she would pray for the couple, Graham allegedly replied, "Dead serious, if u don't hear from me at all again tonight, something happened."
Graham was arrested on Sept. 9, but was not formally charged until Thursday's grand jury indictment.
Prior to the indictment, Graham's public defender, Michael Donahoe, called the affidavit misleading and said his client had acted in self-defense.
"This is all one motion, this grabbing, this pushing," Donahoe said in court.
Graham is scheduled to appear for her arraignment in U.S. District Court in Missoula on Friday afternoon.
The maximum penalty Graham could face carries a penalty of mandatory life imprisonment.
Speaking with The Missoulian on Thursday, Tracey Maness, a friend of Johnson's family, said they are pleased with the indictment.
"Everyone is thrilled the grand jury did the right thing and Jordan will face trial for her crime," she said.
READ THE INDICTMENT: