Del Orrin Crawford, 42, has been sentenced to 100 years in prison for the brutal killing of 28-year-old Whisper Dawn Mari Sellars and the attempted murder of her husband, Doug Crosswhite. The sentence follows a conviction in July for deliberate homicide, attempted deliberate homicide, assault with a weapon, and evidence tampering. Crawford was acquitted of an additional charge of assault with a weapon.
The tragic events unfolded on the night of August 27, 2022, in a parking lot at the Southfork Saloon in Martin City, Montana, located near Glacier National Park. The shooting occurred after a heated argument involving Crawford, Sellars, and another woman. The dispute began when Sellars and the other woman were taking pictures in a golf cart that Crawford had driven to the bar, and Crawford believed they had taken his keys. The situation escalated when Crawford pushed Sellars, and her husband, Doug, responded by pushing him back.
According to prosecutors, Crawford, acting out of anger, fired his gun during the altercation. Crawford, however, claimed he was acting in self-defense, stating that he had been pushed to the ground and felt threatened. He argued that after being knocked to the ground, he drew his handgun and fired in defense of himself. Crawford’s account of the incident suggested that he was cornered and had no other option but to shoot. However, the jury found his version of events unconvincing, and he was convicted of the charges.
During his trial, it was revealed that Crawford’s actions in the months leading up to the shooting raised serious concerns. In addition to the charges stemming from the incident, Crawford had been convicted of unlawful trapping and had faced accusations of evading authorities. The judge, in delivering the sentence, sharply criticized Crawford’s conduct, calling his self-defense claim “unconvincing” and pointing out that Sellars was in a “submissive posture” when she was shot. The judge noted that the bullet that struck Sellars tore through her heart, ensuring her death was swift and inevitable.
Crawford’s actions have left a lasting impact on the victims’ families. Robert Crosswhite, the father-in-law of Sellars, delivered a powerful statement in court, describing how Crawford’s actions not only took the life of his daughter-in-law but also irrevocably changed the lives of her children and the entire family. He condemned Crawford for what he called the senseless act of violence, which resulted from a trivial dispute over a golf cart.
In addition to the tragic loss of Sellars, the shooting left Doug Crosswhite wounded, and the entire family has been left to cope with the aftermath of the violence. The community, too, has been shaken by the events, as they struggle to understand how such a small disagreement could spiral into such a deadly confrontation.
The case serves as a sobering reminder of how quickly situations can escalate when tempers flare, and it highlights the devastating consequences of violence. Crawford’s lengthy prison sentence is a recognition of the gravity of his actions and the toll they have taken on the lives of those involved. As Crawford begins his sentence, the family of Whisper Dawn Mari Sellars is left to mourn her loss while grappling with the reality of a life forever altered by a senseless act of violence.
