Fatal shooting suspect released from jail

The charges against a man accused of killing former Plains resident Shania Rayond have been dropped for now.

Raymond, 21, was allegedly shot dead by her boyfriend, Travis Doss, 21, in January in Custer County southwest of Miles City.

According to court documents, officers who responded to the Jan. 25 shooting found Raymond dead and Doss with a gunshot wound to the head. He was treated at the hospital and arrested.

Doss allegedly told investigators he thought Raymond shot him first. Court records say he “responded by unloading 18 rounds into her.”

Doss was charged with deliberate homicide, but according to reports the case was dismissed without prejudice last week and he was released from jail where he was being held on a $500,000 bond. Dismissal without prejudice allows for the charges to be refiled in the future.

Bill Silverthorn of Plains is the grandfather of Raymond. He says the family is feeling overwhelmed and frustrated at the news Doss is walking free.

According to Silverthorn, the investigation was held up due to a backlog at the state crime lab, which led to the case dismissal.

“It all comes down to the hold up from the crime lab being able to process the evidence as they are backed up,” said Silverthorn.

He said he and his family are not mad at the crime lab, they are simply frustrated that there is so much work for those who work there.

“I know they are busy, when making phone calls to find information I was told there are around 15 murder cases the crime lab is trying to get through,” Silverthorn explained.

Silverthorn said he was told Doss was allowed to be released because of Montana’s castle law, which in certain cases allows a person to use force to defend themselves and their home.

Silverthorn has taken to social media to raise awareness of the situation in the hopes that people within the community may be able to influence representatives to look at this particular law and how it is applied to potential homicide cases.

“We don’t want this to happen to another family,” said Silverthorn.

“I’m hoping letters sent to the Attorney General’s Office and my local state representatives can help make our case a priority in the crime lab,” he added.

The state Attorney General’s Office was unable to be reached for comment.