A South Dakota man has pled Guilty But Mentally Ill to 3 counts of murder and 2 counts of aggravated assault for killing 3 people and wounding 2 others in November 2021 in the small town of Scotland, about 60 miles southwest of Sioux Falls.
43-year old Francis Lange faces mandatory term life in prison without parole when he’s sentenced July 24, but will receive mental health evaluations and treatment. Lange was scheduled for trial in late July.
Prosecutors back in February had decided not to seek the death penalty for the deaths of Angela Monclova – his former live-in girlfriend, her father Librado Monclova, and her friend Diane Akins.
In his plea, Lange admitted going to his ex-girlfriend’s home and shooting everyone inside. She and her father both died at the scene with Akins dying later at the Scotland hospital.
Angela Monclova’s mother, Vicki, was wounded along with a 5-year old girl, but managed to walk to a son’s home for help. A second son went back to his sister’s home and found the other 3 adults and the 5-year old girl.
Vicki Monclova and the child were transported by helicopter to a Sioux Falls hospital for “serious life-threatening injuries that require extensive medical treatment.”
Psychiatrist Josette Lindahl testified at the hearing where Lange entered his guilty pleas that she’d met with him 3 times and diagnosed him with schizoaffective disorder made worse by alcohol and other substance abuse.