Wolf Point man beaten to death

By Chelsi Moy
Tribune Staff Writer

Friends and family are mourning the weekend death of a Wolf Point man found beaten to death outside his residence on the Fort Peck Reservation.

A neighbor found 47-year-old Kenneth Booth's body lying outside his apartment at the El Rancho Motel in Wolf Point around 4 a.m. Saturday. Emergency responders attempted to resuscitate the Wolf Point man while en route to Trinity Hospital, but pronounced Booth dead upon arrival, said Glenda Moran, Booth's sister who lives in Laurel.

John Martell, 29, pleaded not guilty Tuesday in a Fort Peck tribal court to manslaughter, severe physical domestic abuse and disorderly conduct in connection with Booth's death.

Booth had lived at the El Rancho Motel for the last five years and did maintenance at the apartment complex, Moran said.

Late Friday, Booth heard a female neighbor screaming and went to see if she needed help, Moran said. Authorities told Moran that Martell, who was allegedly under the influence of drugs, attacked Booth when he tried to intervene, Moran said.

"Everybody is talking about how the guy didn't even know he did it," Moran said.

Booth, a long-time resident of the Fort Peck Reservation and enrolled member of the Assiniboine Sioux Tribe, died of severe head trauma, she said.

It doesn't surprise Moran that Booth tried to help his neighbor, she said. It was part of his personality.

"My brother never bothered anybody," Moran said. "We shouldn't have to bury him."

The case is under investigation by the FBI and local authorities.

Chief Tribal Prosecutor Imogene Lilley said the U.S. Attorney's Office in Great Falls will review the case. Martell could potentially face federal charges in Booth's death.

Judge Lonnie Headdress set Martell's bond at $5,000 cash and ordered him not to leave the reservation.