Murder details emerge in court

A 19-year-old Red Wing woman indicted on first-degree murder charges was the alleged gunman’s getaway driver, according to Goodhue County prosecutors.

An indictment against Samantha Mary-Helen Siples vaguely describes her alleged role in the case, though Goodhue County Attorney Stephen Betcher shed some light on the matter in arguing Thursday against bail reduction. She is one of five people indicted in the Jan. 20 shooting death of Luis Orlando Galicia Mijangos.

Betcher said Siples dropped off suspected gunman Marvin Griffith and two others for a rendezvous the group made with Mijangos.

The 26-year-old man was found shot shortly after in an alley off North Park Street. Siples also allegedly picked Griffith up after the shooting, Betcher said.

Her release terms were changed Thursday, allowing her to post a $300,000 bail.

But if Siples does raise the money, she must adhere to conditions, First District Judge Kevin Mark said. Those include signing a waiver of extradition and having no contact with any other defendants in the Red Wing murder case.

Otherwise, she must post a $1 million unconditional bond — the same as her initial amount, though that came with strings attached.

Her attorney, Brenda Lightbody, argued that since Siples is pregnant with twins, she would not risk flight.

Her next court hearing is April 11.

Tags: news, murder, siples