Billings Man Killed in Carjacking Plot, Second Suspect Pleads Guilty

A Billings woman has admitted her role in a violent carjacking that ended in the death of a local man last year. Federal prosecutors say the case involved a planned robbery that turned deadly and is now moving closer to sentencing for those involved.

Billings Woman Pleads Guilty in Federal Court

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Montana, 21-year-old Shyanna Jo Whitewolf of Billings pleaded guilty Wednesday to one count of carjacking resulting in death. The charge carries a possible maximum sentence of life in prison, along with a fine of up to $250,000 and three years of supervised release.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan presided over the hearing. Sentencing will be determined later by U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters after reviewing federal sentencing guidelines and other legal factors. Whitewolf remains in custody while awaiting sentencing.

READ MORE: Billings Property Tax Ranking Revealed in New National Study

Prosecutors Say Carjacking Was Planned

Court documents state that the events leading up to the killing began on May 16, 2025, when another defendant, Violet Littlelight, arranged for Keith Breckenridge to pick her up at her Billings residence. Prosecutors say Littlelight, Whitewolf, and a third co-defendant had already agreed on a plan to rob Breckenridge and steal his truck.

Investigators say the group intended to take the vehicle to Hardin, where they planned to trade it to a drug dealer in exchange for drugs or money.

Victim Allowed Them Into His Truck

When the group met Breckenridge at the arranged location, he reportedly became suspicious of the situation. However, prosecutors say Littlelight reassured him, telling Breckenridge that Whitewolf and the third person simply needed a ride. Based on that assurance, Breckenridge allowed all three people into his truck. As they drove, court documents say Whitewolf engaged Breckenridge in conversation in an effort to keep him calm.

READ MORE: Billings Murder: Local Woman Admits Guilt in Shocking Case

Attack Occurred in a Billings Alley

The situation turned violent when the group directed Breckenridge to stop in an alley. According to prosecutors, Breckenridge was then stabbed approximately 20 times in the neck, chest, and stomach with a knife. Authorities say the attackers removed Breckenridge from the driver’s seat and left him in the alley, where he later died from his injuries.

Truck Taken to Hardin After Attack

After the stabbing, investigators say the defendants drove the victim’s truck to Hardin. Once there, they reportedly changed their clothes and placed the bloody clothing inside the vehicle before continuing on to a home on the Crow Reservation. At the residence, the group attempted to clean the truck using cleaning supplies provided by the homeowner.

Court documents state that clothing and other evidence were then thrown into a burn pit in an attempt to destroy them.

Arrests Followed Police Response

While the suspects were cleaning the vehicle, law enforcement officers arrived at the home. Investigators say Littlelight and another co-defendant fled the scene, leaving the truck behind. Whitewolf remained but initially told officers she had no involvement with the truck, prosecutors said. She was not arrested at that time but was taken into custody several days later.

Get our free mobile app

Federal and Local Agencies Investigated

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Colin Rubich and Zeno Baucus. The investigation involved multiple agencies, including the FBI, the Billings Police Department, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Additional court proceedings and sentencing dates are expected to be scheduled in the coming months.