Cold Case Unit
Missoula County Sheriff’s Office Cold Case Unit, established in 2019, investigates unsolved homicides within the jurisdiction of Missoula County. The unit consists of retired Federal law enforcement officers both from the FBI and Homeland Security.
The unit has also been made available, when requested, to neighboring law enforcement agencies and other jurisdictions in the state of Montana.
A key task of the Cold Case Unit is to review old evidence using advanced technology. For example, some homicides occurred before the use of DNA, or at least before it had advanced to its present level. The unit also employs modern computer technology, along with old-fashioned police work.
When contacted, the unit has found that witnesses who were previously reluctant to cooperate, are more willing to share crucial details about the Cold Cases.
If you have information that may help solve a Cold Case in Missoula County or a neighboring jurisdiction, please contact a member of the Missoula County Sheriff's Office Cold Case Unit:
Diana Parker: (406) 830-5616
Lee Oly: (406) 830-8020
Norm Wight: (406) 830-7006
Cold Case Profiles
To learn more about each case, click on the name to expand the details. If you have any information that might help solve a Cold Case, please contact Missoula County Sheriff's Office at (406) 258-3302.
Barbara Bolick was last seen near the Bear Creek Overlook in the Bitterroot Mountains, west of Victor in Montana on Wednesday, July 18, 2007. As of 2023, her current age would be 71. She is 5'0", 115 lbs, Caucasian brown eyes, red/auburn hair, and pierced ears. She was last seen wearing a pastel-colored shirt, tan shorts, and had a black colored backpack. She was hiking with a partner and when they turned around, she was gone. No sign of her was found in the area which was searched by SAR personnel, volunteers and search dogs.
If you believe you might have any information or if you have any questions about the investigation you are encouraged to contact MCSO Special Agent Lee Oly at (406) 830-8020 or MCSO Special Agent Norm Wight (406) 830-7006 or RCSO Lt. Zae Hudson (406) 375-4020.
On or about July 1, 1991, Iva and Kenneth Cheetham, from Washington State, were shot and killed near Lake Inez north of Missoula. Their van was found at the end of a new logging road on August 5, 1991 and their bodies were found about two miles south of the van on September 11, 1991. A Hitachi VM-5200A video camera was stolen from the van and has never been recovered.
If you have any information that might help solve this Cold Case, please contact Missoula County Sheriff's Office at (406) 258-3302.
On November 6, 2001, there was a triple homicide in Florence, MT, at The Hair Gallery Beauty Salon. Victims were Dorothy Harris, Brenda Patch and Cynthia Paulus. The Ravalli County Sheriff’s Office has recently requested the assistance of the Missoula County Cold Case Unit.
If you have any information that might help solve this Cold Case, please contact Missoula County Sheriff's Office at (406) 258-3302.
In the early morning hours of May 2, 1990, Bertha Scott was killed in her room at the Riverside Health Care Facility, which is on East Broadway in Missoula. In the early morning hours of July 1, 1990, Nancy Lagerquist was taken from her room at the same facility, murdered, and then thrown into the river. Both victims were elderly and infirm.
If you have any information that might help solve this Cold Case, please contact Missoula County Sheriff's Office at (406) 258-3302.
In the early morning hours of Monday, September 30, 1996, Clifford Lee Nelson was murdered by gunfire in his home in Seeley Lake, Montana. Mr. Nelson was a highly respected teacher and member of the community. He had been named “Teacher of the Year” for the entire State of Montana for 1981. The loss of this educator affected many in this town.
If you have any information that might help solve this Cold Case, please contact Missoula County Sheriff's Office at (406) 258-3302.
The Missoula County Sheriff's Office Cold Case Unit is providing assistance to the Ravalli County Sheriff's Office in hopes to identify unidentified remains recovered in the Bitterroot National Forest on July 8, 2010. The remains were located near St.Mary’s Peak (closest town Stevensville, Montana).
Please look at the photos below and see if you recognize any of the items. If you believe you might have any information or if you have any questions about the investigation you are encouraged to contact MCSO Special Agent Lee Oly at (406) 830-8020 or MCSO Special Agent Norm Wight (406) 830-7006 or RCSO Lt. Zae Hudson (406) 375-4020.
Solved - Case Closed
This case was solved September 2022 by using a SNP profile recovered from evidence. Genealogical DNA identified the suspect and it was later determined the suspect was deceased. Adams' family was notified of the investigation.
History: On about September 9, 2002, a male, identified as William T. Adams, was found murdered in a shallow grave in a homeless camp at the north end of Orange Street in Missoula. The case is under active investigation.
The woman was identified using genealogical DNA testing, as a missing person from Washington State, Janet Lucas.
History: In September 1985, a local hunter was tracking a bear he had shot in the woods south of Missoula, MT when he came upon human skeletal remains. An initial investigation revealed that the remains belong to a female homicide victim. The cause of death was two close range 0.32 caliber bullets to the skull.
The case was solved jointly by the FBI, Missoula Police Department and the Missoula Sheriff’s Cold Case team, using genetic genealogy DNA research, and follow-up investigation.
History: Siobhan McGuinness was a five-year old girl who was abducted from the vicinity of her home in northern Missoula on February 7, 1974. She was on her way home from playing at a friend’s house. Her body was found by the highway about ten miles east of town.
The remains were identified using genetic genealogy. It was discovered that the man's family had reported him missing from California in 2020. The family was notified of the identification.
History: Decomposed remains were found on 2/1/2020 near the Missoula sewage plant and a homeless encampment. What has been identified at this time is it was an adult male, 40 to 60 years of age, probably Caucasian, 5' 6" to 6'2" height, healed ribs, radius, nose and ankle, screws in left tibia and left fibula. At this time, we are awaiting DNA results from the remains to be processed and uploaded to the National Missing and Unidentified Remains database.
The remains were identified using genetic genealogy. The young man’s remains were returned to his family in Texas.
History: On August 9, 2014, a backpacker discovered skeletal remains in the Bidwell Gulch area of the Welcome Creek Wilderness. The Granite County Sheriff’s Office requested assistance from the Missoula Sheriff’s Office Cold Case Unit.