Crime and Courts

Agents search truck possibly involved in death of 3-year-old in Big Horn County

Posted: Dec 21, 2012 3:34 PM by MTN News

BILLINGS - Federal agents have searched the vehicle believed to be involved in the death of a 3-year-old girl.

The FBI says the girl was possibly thrown from a vehicle by her mother near Hardin on Dec. 3. Agents obtained a search and seizure warrant after filing a search warrant application on Wednesday in US District Court Wednesday in Billings.

The warrant was filed Friday and executed on Thursday night.

The BIA searched a 1999 Dodge pickup truck, owned by Mary Leider, 24. The special agent seized two jackets with red stains, took several swabs of red stains from the vehicle and found a white substance from inside the truck.
That warrant details accusations that Leider threw her 3-year-old daughter Tenielle Big-Day from a speeding truck. The incident occurred on Highway 313 between Hardin and St. Xavier.

The court document gives details of interviews from Leider and her brother, Wally Leider.

The report states that Mary and both of her brothers were driving home from a night of partying.
Wally Leider told investigators, as he was driving when his sister opened the passenger door and threw her daughter out of the pickup.

The document also states that Mary Leider told investigators, that she hit her head when her brother stopped the pickup and doesn't remember what happened to her daughter who had been sitting on her lap.

Mary Leider was booked in the Yellowstone County Detention facility on an outstanding warrant and released three days later.