Agencies in three counties involved
Annette Hayden Havre Daily News ahayden@havredailynews.com
Numerous investigative agencies are seeking the truth surrounding the possible shooting death of a 13-year-old boy early Sunday involving Chouteau County Sheriff Vern Burdick. The boy, a Havre resident, according to Havre Police Lt. Russ Ostwalt, died on Highway 223 just north of Fort Benton and may have also been involved in the theft of a 4-door passenger vehicle from a Havre parking lot Saturday night. “The theft of the vehicle was reported at 11:55 p.m. April 21,” Ostwalt said. “It was taken from a parking lot in Havre between 7:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. We believe it is the same vehicle involved in the the Chouteau County incident. On our end, we are investigating the theft only and will pass our report on to the Montana Division of Criminal Investigation. We will also assist Chouteau County and the investigating agencies in any way we can.” DCI is investigating the incident of the boy’s death. DCI Communications Officer Lynn Solomon referred all questions to the Chouteau County Sheriff’s office. A spokesperson at the Chouteau County Sheriff’s office said information would be released at a press conference later today. The Fergus County Coroners Office is also investigating the death. Deputy Coroner Jeremy Bristol said he pronounced the boy dead and took possession of the body at 3 a.m. Sunday. “We received the call from the Chouteau County Sheriff’s Department at 1:07 a.m. Sunday,” Bristol said. “The reason is that Fergus County is an independent coroner’s office and Chouteau County has a combined sheriff’s and coroner’s office. They needed a coroner not associated with law enforcement involved in the investigation.” Bristol responded to Benefit East Hospital in Great Falls and took the body to St. Vincent’s Hospital in Billings for autopsy. “We are waiting for the autopsy and toxicology report,” Bristol said. “We will then forward the information and our report on to the DCI coroner’s office.”
