Kelsey Jo Staigmiller, 32, was sentenced to 100 years in prison on Tuesday, April 21, for the carjacking homicide of 51-year-old tattoo artist Sarah Bailey. The crime, which took place in May 2025, resulted in the tragic death of Bailey, who was an innocent victim caught in a violent and senseless act. Staigmiller pleaded guilty to deliberate homicide and criminal mischief in connection with the incident.
A Tragic and Unprovoked Crime
The crime occurred on May 18, 2025, when Bailey was getting into her pickup truck in downtown Great Falls around 6 p.m. Staigmiller, who did not know Bailey, jumped into the passenger seat of the vehicle, initiating a struggle between the two women. Cascade County Attorney Josh Racki described the incident as an example of the “wrong place, wrong time” scenario, with Bailey simply going home from work and finding herself the victim of a violent carjacking.
Racki emphasized that the two women did not know each other, making the crime all the more tragic. “It was one of those true scenarios where just someone’s going home from work and gets murdered,” he said.
The Struggle and Fatal Outcome
According to Racki, the struggle between Staigmiller and Bailey was captured on local surveillance cameras. The footage showed Staigmiller trying to force Bailey out of the truck, with Bailey attempting to retreat. Racki described how Bailey became “hung up in the seatbelt” and Staigmiller had a hold of her by the hair. Despite Bailey’s attempts to escape, Staigmiller sped off, with Bailey partially thrown from the truck.
Bailey’s body was later found near an intersection by police, and it was determined that as the truck turned, Bailey swung out and was caught under the rear tire, leading to her death. “She went underneath the truck a little bit, and the back tire of the truck caught her foot — which then pulled her out of the seatbelt, and of course, under the back tire and under the truck, too,” Racki explained.
Remembering Sarah Bailey
Bailey, who was described by those who knew her as a generous, charitable, and funny person, was deeply loved in her community. Shannon McNamara-Stanczak, one of Bailey’s clients, recalled her as someone with a profound love for animals and a “bright light” in the world. Julie Curtis, another person close to Bailey, shared similar sentiments, emphasizing that Bailey did not deserve to die in such a tragic and violent manner.
“She was an incredible human,” Curtis said. “She was a bright light, and she did not deserve to go this way.”
Legal Consequences
Following Staigmiller’s guilty plea, she was sentenced to 100 years in prison for her role in Bailey’s death. The conviction of deliberate homicide and criminal mischief ensures that Staigmiller will face significant consequences for the tragic and senseless loss of life.
This case serves as a painful reminder of the unpredictability of violence and the profound impact such crimes have on families and communities. Bailey’s death has left a lasting void, but her memory will live on through the people whose lives she touched.
