Woman in Parsons case back in jail

A woman accused of killing a former Troy man with her car nearly three years ago in East Missoula is back in jail with raised bail.

After Katie Garding, 24, of Stevensville was arrested for a second time within six weeks for allegedly violating the terms of her release, the judge more than tripled her bail to $100,000.

Garding was ordered to appear in court again next Thursday, and can’t be released without first seeing the judge.

The Missoula County Attorney’s Office filed charges against Garding in March for allegedly committing a hit-and-run on New Year’s Day 2008 that caused the death of 25-year-old Bronson Parsons.

Garding had been out of jail with her case pending until last month when she was incarcerated for allegedly contacting witnesses in the case, driving without a license and admittedly smoking marijuana. She was arrested again last week on a warrant that alleged she did not follow through with a mandatory drug test, failed to keep in contact with her probation officer, and had drug tests that revealed positive for methamphetamine use.

Authorities believe Garding got into her black Chevrolet Blazer with two passengers after she had been drinking at a bar in the early hours of New Year’s Day 2008. They accuse her of swerving onto the shoulder of Highway 200 and hitting Parsons from behind as he walked beside a friend, and then driving away.

Parsons grew up in Troy with parents and a sister that still reside there.