A May trial date has been set for a Hot Springs man accused of killing his mother…who disappeared from Hot Springs 15 months ago.

27-year old Matthew Tornquist is charged with 1st-degree murder, an alternate count of 2nd-degree murder, and grand theft. He was indicted by a Fall River County grand jury last July and remains in custody.

Catherine Tornquist disappeared in October 2011 after getting several thousand dollars from the bank to go to Rapid City to purchase a camper. She never arrived at the camper dealership and has not been seen since.

Several extensive searches in the Hot Springs area at different times of the past 15 months have failed to turn up any sign of Catherine Tornquist or the money.

The grand jury that indicated Matthew Tornquist heard testimony from 14 witnesses before handing down the indictment. The 1st-degree murder charge alleges premeditation while the alternate count of 2nd-degree murder drops the allegation of premeditation.

1st-degree murder carries the death penalty or a mandatory life sentence, and Matt Brown of the South Dakota Attorney General’s office…who is prosecuting the case…has already said he won’t pursue the death penalty. 2nd-degree murder also carries a mandatory life sentence