Accused murderer released from treatment facility, case to proceed

WALLACE — Monday was law day in Shoshone County and a number of cases were heard in Judge Barbara Duggan’s District Court.

Among the cases heard was the arraignment of Stephanie Paris.

Paris was arrested in June 2022 on charges of first-degree murder, failure to notify authorities of a death and obstruction of justice.

In December 2022, a hearing was held following the completion of a competency evaluation on Paris — it was determined that, at that time, the defendant lacked the capacity to make informed decisions concerning treatment.

This determination suspended the proceedings of the case until recently when the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare (IDHW) made the determination that she was now mentally fit for the proceedings to move forward — however, the specifics of that report are unknown as it is currently sealed.

During Monday morning’s arraignment, defense attorney Lisa Chesebro requested and was granted two weeks to review the report from IDHW and meet with her client, who has only recently been returned to Shoshone County.

Paris’s charges stem from an incident in June 2022, when the Shoshone County Sheriff’s Office attempted to conduct a welfare check on Aaron Peterson, a Smelterville man who was in a "violent domestic relationship" with his girlfriend, Stephanie Paris, according to the reporting party.

Paris met the deputy at the door to the residence in Smelterville, but wouldn’t allow him entry, stating that Peterson was in the shower and would be headed to work at the Bunker Hill Mine soon.

Shoshone County Sheriff's Office Sgt. Jared Bilaski left the residence and returned with backup from both SCSO and the Kellogg Police Department, where he informed Paris that he would be obtaining a search warrant for the property — to which Paris allegedly replied by saying, "If you kick that door open, you're going to be dead. I'll shoot you."

Once the search warrant was granted, Bilaski searched the house and located Peterson’s body in the bedroom of the residence — where it was determined that he had been killed via multiple gunshots to his back.

Paris was taken into custody immediately and has remained in custody ever since.

Paris will be taken before Judge Duggan again on April 10.