Kyle Ann Morrow, a 73-year-old romance novelist, entered a not guilty plea Tuesday to a charge of deliberate homicide in the death of Gene Gudmundson, the longtime owner of the Spa Hot Springs Motel in White Sulphur Springs. Morrow appeared in Meagher County court for the Tuesday afternoon proceeding, entering the courtroom smiling and waving.
Court documents allege that Morrow walked into the Spa Hot Springs Motel and killed Gudmundson, who had owned and operated the establishment for years. The motel, known for its natural hot springs pools, is a fixture in Meagher County and draws visitors from across the region, including Helena-area residents who make the roughly 80-mile drive for a soak.
Gudmundson's death and Morrow's arrest drew statewide attention in part because of Morrow's background as a published romance novelist — an unusual detail in a case that has shaken the small community of White Sulphur Springs, which sits at the center of a county of fewer than 2,000 people. The circumstances surrounding the alleged killing have not been fully detailed in public court filings.
With the not guilty plea entered, the case now moves into the pretrial phase. Morrow's defense will have the opportunity to review evidence, and a trial date will eventually be set in Meagher County. The case will continue to draw interest from Helena-area residents given both its proximity and its unusual circumstances.