Family of 4, including a 7-month-old and a 6-year-old, dead in Montana murder-suicide
A couple and their two young children were found dead in a northwest Montana home after a man opened fire on his family, called 911 and died by suicide, authorities said Monday.
Police in Kalispell, a city of just under 30,000 in the shadow of Glacier National Park, said the man had made disquieting statements to a 911 operator before officers responded to the home in the Silverbrook Estates community just before 6 a.m. Sunday.
Officers discovered the family, including a 7-month-old and a 6-year-old, dead from gunshot wounds in the home, Kalispell Police Chief Jordan Venezio said.
The mother was identified by police as Katie Olson-Hartley, 27; the father and suspected shooter was identified as Nicholas Olson-Hartley, 33.
"After collecting evidence throughout the day and interviewing numerous people, we believe this tragic event to be the result of a murder-suicide," Venezio said.
The chief said investigators believe Nicholas Olson-Hartley had killed his family before he dialed 911 and made unspecified statements officials described only as "concerning."
"It appears Nicholas Olson-Hartley took the lives of his young family before calling 911," Venezio said. "After making the phone call to dispatch, he took his own life."
The incidents remained under investigation, the chief said.
The deaths were discovered a day after a husband, wife and their two teenage children were found dead inside their home in Nebraska in a suspected murder-suicide, according to Nebraska State Patrol.
In Montana, court records show that Nicholas Olson-Hartley filed a marriage license application that includes his wife's name in 2018. Katie Olson-Hartley's Facebook page, which was verified by NBC News, proudly displays the children, both girls, in numerous photographs.
In 2023, she characterized a photo featuring Nicholas Olson-Hartley and herself amid fall foliage as a loving portrait. "This is how people look at each other in movies when they're in love," Katie Olson-Hartley wrote in a comment.
The neighborhood, a planned community called Silverbrook Estates adjacent to the Stillwater River, features homes built in the last five years, some listed for sale with asking prices of more than $1 million
The community's developer, Westcraft Homes, said in a statement on Monday, "We are deeply saddened by the recent tragic loss of one of our Silverbrook families. Our thoughts, prayers, and heartfelt condolences go out to all who are grieving — especially the extended family, neighbors, and friends affected by this unimaginable tragedy."
It urged neighbors to appreciate each other.
"Let us honor the lives lost by fostering kindness, reaching out, and lifting one another up," it said. "Let us support, listen, and show compassion. Together, we can help by choosing compassion and knowledge."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
NBC News
2 hours ago
- NBC News
Texas man allegedly spiked girlfriend's drink with Plan C to terminate her pregnancy, officials say
A Texas man was arrested and accused of spiking a romantic partner's drink with abortion-inducing medication and allegedly ending her pregnancy without consent, officials said Wednesday. Justin Anthony Banta, 38, was booked into custody on Friday last week on suspicion of tampering with evidence and capital murder before he posted at $500,000 bond and was released, Parker County authorities said. A woman claimed she had been seeing Banta and told him in September last year that was pregnant with his child, according to a sheriff's department statement. The woman met Banta at a coffee shop in nearby Tarrant County where she believes the suspect "secretly added abortion-inducing pills to her drink without her knowledge or permission," the sheriff said. "The victim reported she lost her baby on Oct. 19, which she believed was a result of the drugs Banta had previously placed in her drink at the coffee shop without her permission," the sheriff added. Banta, who works in information technology for the U.S. Department of Justice, also "reset" his cell phone during the probe, "thereby deleting crucial evidence related to the case," according to the sheriff. Banta, who is separated from his wife, said he'd seen this woman four times. He and defense attorney Michael Heiskell denied the defendant spiked any drinks. "He's innocent of these charges," Heiskell told NBC News. "He has cooperated with the investigators since last fall when all of this brouhaha arose after his relationship ended with this woman. He is not guilty." At this point in the probe, law enforcement has not shown Banta any evidence to confirm the woman's pregnancy, according to Heiskell. "There were discussions about her being pregnant, but that was never confirmed by her to him. And yes, he did research Plan C," said Heiskell, who denied his client put that medication in the accuser's drink. Texas law bans nearly all abortions, so abortion-inducing pills cannot be obtained from doctors or pharmacists in the state.
Daily Mirror
2 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Woman flashes obscene gesture as mob forces accused baby killer out of her home
Nicole Blain is set to appear in court next year after she was alleged to have killed her baby daughter by shaking just three weeks after she was born at a flat in Greenock, Inverclyde A woman was seen making an obscene gesture towards a baying mob as an accused baby killer was forced to leave her home. Police have charged Nicole Blain, 29, over the death of three-week-old Thea June Wilson at a property in Greenock, in Inverclyde Scotland, on July 14 2023. Prosecutors have alleged she shook the child and inflicted blunt force trauma by unknown means before her death. She denies the charges, and is set to appear before the court in a trial scheduled for April 2026, but the case has already caught significant local attention, with police called to her home after a baying mob materialised outside her flat. Footage obtained by the Daily Record outside of the flat in Johnstone, Renfrewshire, shows officers guarding the property as people gather outside, with shouts of "get her out" as the crowd grew. Other chants of "get her into the back of the van" and "you are lucky that the cops are here" could be heard as two women emerged from the home. In response, one of the pair could be seen flipping up their middle finger at the crowd as the they were bundled into the back of a police van. The curbside protest followed a local social media campaign in which residents of Johnstone have called for "support" to remove her from the area. Videos showing her being moved from the home have been hailed by supporters of the fervent campaign, which has built up across multiple social media accounts, mainly on Facebook. A spokesperson for Police Scotland said however that the crowd dispersed a short time after officers arrived to collect Blain. A spokesperson for the service said: "Around 7.25pm on Monday, 9 June, 2025, we received a report of a crowd gathered outside a property in Floorsburn Crescent, Johnstone. "Officers attended and the crowd dispersed a short time later." Blain's legal team has pleaded not guilty on her behalf following an initial hearing at Glasgow High Court on May 8, with a special defence of incrimination lodged as the defence and prosecution agreed to said they were prepared for a trial. The case, when it comes before the court next year, is expected to last around six days, and several "professional witnesses" are set to be allowed to provide evidence remotely. A fundraiser was launched in the wake of baby Thea's death in a bid to raise roughly £1,200 for the three-week-old's funeral costs. But the page has since been suspended, with donations no longer allowed.
Metro
3 hours ago
- Metro
Woman arrested of 'murder' after boy, 4, found dead inside Maidenhead home
A woman has been arrested on suspicion of murder after a four-year-old boy was found dead at a Maidenhead home. The unnamed youngster was declared dead at the scene when police arrived at the home on Dunholme End around 6.30pm yesterday. His next have kin have been informed. Police said today a 37-year-old woman from Maidenhead has been arrested on suspicion of murder. She remains in custody. Detective Inspector Rob Underhill said: 'This is an exceptionally tragic incident, in which a young boy has tragically passed away. More Trending 'Although formal identification has not yet taken place, the boy's next of kin are aware and my thoughts, and the thoughts of all of us at Thames Valley Police, are with them at this extremely difficult time. 'We are still in the very early stages of this investigation and have made an arrest in connection with this incident. 'I recognise the concern this will cause in the local community. However, we are confident that there is no wider risk to the community and thank you for your patience as our officers continue their work.' Got a story? Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ Or you can submit your videos and pictures here. For more stories like this, check our news page. Follow on Twitter and Facebook for the latest news updates. You can now also get articles sent straight to your device. Sign up for our daily push alerts here. MORE: British woman accused of smuggling drugs in Angel Delight sachets says she was 'framed' MORE: Mum of murdered footballer 'wishes she had a wand to get rid of knife crime' MORE: Toddler dies after 'drunk dad left her in a hot car for nine hours'
