Man Admits Deadly Gun Attack, Arson

A Woodland, Wash., man charged in a deadly gun attack and arson fire at a home near here pleaded guilty Monday to two counts of murder and two of attempted murder.

Carl Sidney Race, 49, changed his plea from innocent after the state agreed not to ask for the death penalty.

The court is not bound by the agreement. District Judge Kenneth Wilson accepted the guilty pleas, ordered a presentence investigation and set sentencing for June 17.

When asked why he was pleading guilty, Race replied: “Because I got a plea bargain and because I did it.”

Race was accused of breaking through the door of Claude and Reta Wyman’s home in Kinsey, northeast of Miles City, the night of Oct. 21, 1995. Investigators alleged Race shot Claude Wyman in the stomach as Wyman approached the back door to see who had driven up.

Race then shot Reta Wyman, his sister-in-law, and the couple’s sons, Jeff, 32, and Paul, 28, poured kerosene over the bodies and set the house on fire, prosecutors said.

Claude and Jeff managed to escape and made their way to a neighbor’s home seeking help. Reta and Paul died at the scene.

Race fled Montana and was the subject of a nationwide manhunt for six days. He was arrested near Corpus Christi, Texas, on Oct. 28 and later waived extradition.

Race was married to Reta’s sister Nancy. He and his wife were in the midst of a bitter divorce and Race reportedly blamed the family for the break-up of his marriage.