Anniversary of unsolved murder observed

Two years after her sister's murder, Holly Wilcock is still crusading to find Darlene Wilcock's killer.

Darlene Wilcock, 26, was strangled in a second-story room in Kalispell's Motel 6 on April 16 or 17, 2003. No one has been arrested.

Holly Wilcock has dedicated herself to finding out what happened to her older sister.

"If I have to go to my grave doing it, I will," she said.

She and her family plan a rally for Darlene at Depot Park at 1 p.m. Saturday - the anniversary of the murder. They invite "anybody who has been a victim of crime and wants to stand together as one person" or anyone who knew Darlene or wants to support them.

Meanwhile, the Kalispell Police Department continues its investigation into its only unsolved murder, Chief Frank Garner said.

"Even two years later, we are still making progress," he said. "Not a day goes by that we don't do some work on it and think about the case. It isn't sitting on a shelf collecting dust."

Police have narrowed their field of suspects, he said.

"We need a little more to make an arrest," Garner said. "This isn't a whodunit right now."

When will an arrest happen?

"I can't put a date on when it is," Garner said. "It is particularly challenging in this case."

Wilcock's family last saw her on April 16 at about 6 p.m. Her strangled, nude body was discovered by a motel employee the following day, but police believe Wilcock died on the night of April 16.

Wilcock was in the company of a couple of people during that time. Toxicology tests did not find any drugs or alcohol in her system.

A legal dispute has arisen over two hefty life-insurance policies that Wilcock carried.

Wilcock's family set up a Web page to honor her life and solicit information on her death. It is at www.geocities.com/darlinwilcock

Reporter Chery Sabol may be reached at 758-4441 or by e-mail at csabol@dailyinterlake.com