Fourth suspect arrested in murder case
Three more Kalispell residents have been arrested in connection to the murder of Kalispell resident Wade Allen Rautio, with still more arrests expected as the case continues to unfold.
Law enforcement officials on Monday discovered the body of Rautio, 35, under a log in Brown Creek east of the Flathead Valley after receiving information that he had been murdered over Memorial Day Weekend.
Flathead County Sheriff Chuck Curry said Rautio appeared to have been stabbed to death.
Sheriff’s deputies arrested Robert Wittal, 29, on Monday night, followed by the Tuesday arrests of Melisa Crone, 29, and Christopher Hansen, 28.
Curry announced the arrest of the fourth murder suspect, David Vincent Toman, 20, in a press release Wednesday afternoon. All four suspects were being held in the Flathead County Detention Center on initial charges of deliberate homicide, but no charges have been formally filed.
Curry declined to provide details on the circumstances surrounding the arrests, citing the ongoing nature of the case. But he said he believes the murder was drug-related and added that he expects the two-day string of arrests will continue.
“The case is continuing to unfold, and it’s been fairly convoluted and involved, so yes, I anticipate we’ll have more arrests and charges,” he said Wednesday.
Wittal’s arrest Monday came the same day that a bench warrant was issued for his arrest after he missed a court appearance last week on separate charges.
According to court documents, Wittal was initially arrested Dec. 16, 2015, on suspicion of methamphetamine possession and for carrying concealed weapons without a permit.
Sheriff’s deputies had approached Wittal near Scotty’s Bar off U.S. 93 and learned of the outstanding warrants after speaking with him, according to court documents.
When asked if he had any weapons, Wittal said he had a firearm tucked into his jeans under his shirt. He didn’t have a concealed permit for the gun.
Wittal was released May 3 and failed to appear at his June 2 arraignment.
The bench warrant was issued June 13 after he missed his next arraignment, scheduled June 9.