Soldier accused of murder pleads innocent
The Army soldier suspected in the December murder of a Ferndale man pleaded innocent Wednesday in Lake County District Court to one count of deliberate homicide as investigators continue to search for pieces of the weapon used in the shooting.
Ronald Lon Petersen, 19, who is being held without bail, was extradited to Montana from Cumberland County, N.C., on Feb. 5 to face charges in the Dec. 31 shooting death of Clyde Wilson, 24.
So far, authorities have recovered the barrel of the .45-caliber pistol believed to have been used in the shooting. It was found in the shallows of the Flathead River near the Old Steel Bridge near Kalispell - not in the Swan River near the Bridge Street bridge in Bigfork where investigators originally thought the gun had been discarded.
Petersen is believed to have dismantled the gun and thrown it into the river from his car.
Following a tip, divers searched the Swan River for several days at the end of January, but follow up interviews revealed that authorities had been misled.
The Flathead County dive team leader said Wednesday that divers won't search the deepest and swiftest portion of the Flathead River until Petersen describes more accurately where he allegedly tossed the gun.
Authorities allege Petersen, of Bigfork, broke into Wilson's Meadow Creek Road cabin on the morning of Jan. 31 and shot him three times with the semi-automatic pistol.
Petersen, who is in the U.S. Army, was arrested Jan. 27 at Fort Bragg Army Base near Fayetteville, N.C., and was extradited back to Montana.
According to court documents, Wilson's girlfriend, 20-year-old Raney Frick, called 911 at about 5:30 a.m. on Dec. 31 to report someone had just shot Wilson and fled the scene.
Frick told law officers she had fallen asleep watching movies in the living room the night before the shooting. Wilson was reportedly lying next to her.
Awakened by the sound of gunshots, Frick told police she saw an intruder standing in the room and then bolt through the back door.
Investigators, who recovered several shell casings from the scene, believe the shooter, who was wearing a dark-colored ski cap, may have broken through the cabin's back door. Frick's 5-month-old infant also was at the home at the time of the incident.
On Jan. 26, authorities received a tip from Petersen's brother, Ryon Gates. Gates told investigators Petersen confessed to the crime and described details about the shooting not released to the public. Petersen also showed Gates the gun he used and said it belonged to Bigfork resident Zachary Forkin, 19.
Deputies searched Forkin's Marken Loop Road home, but were unable to find the pistol. Investigators did recover the gun's case, holster, a black ski mask, and a test-fired casing that came with the pistol. Forkin eventually admitted he had loaned the pistol - which actually belonged to his mother - to Petersen, according to court records.
Forkin was questioned in connection with the shooting, but was not charged. Petersen reportedly stayed with Forkin in Bigfork while he was on leave.
Investigators have not released the reason why Petersen allegedly killed Wilson, but ruled out robbery early into the investigation.
The defense is seeking a mental-health evaluation for Petersen.
If convicted, Petersen faces up to life in prison or, if aggravating circumstances are found, the death penalty. The minimum sentence for deliberate homicide is 10 years in prison. A trial date has not yet been set.
Reporter Nicholas Ledden can be reached at 758-4441 or by e-mail at nledden@dailyinterlake.com