William Oliver Eyle, a 21-year-old man from Lapwai, has been sentenced to 19 years in federal prison for the second-degree murder of Elias Albert Spencer. Acting U.S. Attorney Justin Whatcott shared the news.
In May 2023, Eyle murdered Spencer on the Nez Perce Indian Reservation. According to court records, Eyle's vehicle broke down outside Spencer's home. When Spencer came outside, Eyle shot him five times. Spencer's family discovered his body on the sidewalk in front of the house. Eyle then fled the area, destroyed evidence, and evaded capture for several months. He was eventually found by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Marshals Service in late November 2023. Eyle was 19 years old at the time of the crime.
Eyle admitted guilt to the second-degree murder charge on January 29, 2025. U.S. District Judge Amanda K. Brailsford sentenced him to 19 years in prison followed by five years of supervised release. Eyle's mother, Jacinta Wheeler, was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison in November 2024 for misprision of a felony because she failed to report the murder and advised her son to flee.
Acting U.S. Attorney Whatcott stated, "The murder of Elias Albert Spencer was a senseless act of violence. My heart goes out to Elias’ family, whose strength and resolve during this tragedy has been inspiring. While this sentence cannot bring Elias back, hopefully it provides them some measure of closure, while also preventing future acts of violence by this defendant for a lengthy time."
Special Agent in Charge Mehtab Syed of the Salt Lake City FBI commented, “William Eyle’s actions profoundly impacted not only the victim’s family but the community’s sense of safety. While nothing will bring their loved one back, we hope the sentence provides some sense of justice to Elias Spencer’s family and friends. The FBI is committed to working with our partners to solve MMIP cases and ensure safety on reservations.”
Whatcott praised the effort of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Nez Perce Tribal Police, who were instrumental in bringing about the charges. The case was prosecuted by Assistants U.S. Attorneys Traci Whelan and Adam Johnson.