Father, son murdered
Flathead County Sheriff’s Posse members Loyal and Sharon Chubb stand outside 521 Mennonite Church Road Friday morning. The bodies of murder victims Donald Roy Calbick, 60, and Stacey Michael Calbick, 38, were found in the home Thursday afternoon.
Flathead County Sheriff’s Posse members, from left, Perry Gates and Janet Yatchak and Sheriff’s Detective Ray Young search for evidence while walking between a home at 729 Mennonite Church Road and the Mountain View Mennonite Church. The home was the site of a hostage situation Wednesday night.
A kidnapping incident Wednesday night in Creston apparently was preceded by a double murder a half-mile away.
The same man is charged with crimes in both incidents.
Justin Ray Calbick, 30, of Creston is accused of shooting his father and brother to death, then holding his estranged wife, her father, a friend and three children hostage for three hours at gunpoint.
The shooting victims have been identified as Donald Roy Calbick, 60, and Stacey Michael Calbick, 38, of Kalispell. They are the father and brother, respectively, of Justin Ray Calbick.
The men’s bodies were found Thursday afternoon, hours after Calbick was arrested for the kidnapping incident.
A deputy responding to a request from Stacey Michael Calbick’s ex-wife to check on him found a grisly scene Thursday afternoon at 521 Mennonite Church Road.
Stacey Calbick was found in a shop and Donald Roy Calbick was found in the dining area of his house.
According to court documents, each apparently had died from single gunshots to the head. A cartridge from a .22-caliber rifle was found next to the body of Donald Calbick.
Justin Calbick admitted to the double homicide during questioning, according to court documents.
Authorities believe the fatal shootings occurred sometime Wednesday night and are connected to the hostage situation that occurred later the same night about half a mile away.
When deputies were investigating the kidnapping incident shortly after 1 a.m. Thursday, “there was no indication anything else was wrong,” Meehan said.
Around 9:30 p.m. Wednesday night, Justin Calvin Calbick entered the home of his estranged wife at 729 Mennonite Church Road. He allegedly pointed a .22-caliber rifle at her and told her to tie up her father and her friend with duct tape, then bound her. Three children who were present were reportedly not bound with duct tape
For three hours, the kidnapping victims endured threats and intimidation from Calbick, who kept the gun on them, according to victim statements.
The friend eventually persuaded Calbick to let her go after promising she would not contact authorities. She also talked him into giving her the rifle. She was freed and returned to her home with the rifle just before 1 a.m. Thursday.
The Sheriff’s Office was called. Deputies met with a victim, away from the home, who said Calbick was still at the residence with five hostages.
Four deputies arrested Calbick at the scene without incident.
Evidence recovered from that scene included a .22-caliber rifle, 17 rounds of ammunition and duct tape.
Meehan said the evidence suggests that Justin Calbick shot his father and brother shortly before barging into his wife’s house.
After searching the property and interviewing Justin Calbick and others, “we’ve established that Justin Calbick is our man,” Meehan said.
Calbick earlier this month had been released on informal house arrest to his father’s care as a result of charges stemming from a Jan. 11 incident when he was charged with sexual assault.
During a hearing on Jan. 25, an order of protection, which had been in place since Jan. 12, was extended for a year. That order allowed Calbick supervised visitation privileges and phone privileges with his children. Donald Calbick attended that hearing with his son.
The Flathead County Attorney’s Office has combined the charges against Justin Calbick.
Following Calbick’s initial appearance in District Court Friday afternoon, he is being held in the Flathead County Detention Center without bail.
Calbick will be arraigned Feb. 4 on seven charges: two counts of deliberate homicide, sexual intercourse without consent, partner or family member assault, kidnapping, aggravated burglary and assault with a weapon.
All are felonies except the partner assault charge.
If convicted on all counts, Calbick could face up to 391 years in prison or the death penalty and a $201,000 fine.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.