Accused of Killing Lincoln Deputy and Woman Dies in Custody After Arrest

Accused of Killing Lincoln Deputy and Woman Dies in Custody After Arrest

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A Montana Shooting Tragedy: Suspect Dies in Custody Amid Investigation

A tragic chain of events in Montana has left a Lincoln County deputy and a woman dead, with the man accused of their killings dying in custody just days after his arrest, KPAX reported. The story, unfolding in the small community of Eureka, paints a picture of sudden violence, a manhunt, and a sudden, mysterious end for the suspect in a Missoula County jail cell.

The heart of the story lies in the death of 28-year-old Lincoln County Deputy Ryan Terpsma, who was killed in the line of duty on Friday, Oct. 30, while responding to a disturbance call. Terpsma had been with the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office for only a few months, having previously worked as a detention officer for Flathead County. He was reportedly celebrating his 28th birthday at the time of the incident, a detail that shows the personal loss felt by his colleagues and community.

The Night of the Shooting: A Scene of Chaos

According to charging documents, the trouble began around 8:23 p.m. at a residence on Lone Pine Trail near Eureka. Deputy Terpsma, accompanied by an Eureka police officer, responded to the call. What they found was a violent confrontation. The suspect, 50-year-old Matthew Dye of Kalispell, allegedly shot and killed Terpsma with a semi-automatic weapon. The Eureka police officer was also struck twice in the back, but his body armor stopped the bullets, saving his life.

Lincoln Co deputy killed in Eureka shooting; suspect in custody

As officers worked to process the chaotic scene, investigators made a grim discovery: 46-year-old Merrisa Walker was also found dead at the residence with fatal gunshot wounds. A girl, also at the scene, was injured but was treated and released. Another girl, a 7-year-old, was found hiding in the woods, unharmed but traumatized.

Dye Surrenders After Pursuit

The violence wasn’t over. Dye fled the scene in a vehicle with the 7-year-old girl, setting off a dangerous pursuit south toward Kalispell on U.S. 93. Flathead County Sheriff’s Office deputies located the vehicle, and a chase ensued. During the pursuit, Dye allegedly shot at officers, disabling two Flathead County patrol vehicles. Deputies returned fire, though it’s unclear if Dye was hit.

The chase ended when Dye was stopped at a roadblock set up at Bill Creek Road and Mountain Meadow Road. He surrendered, and the 7-year-old girl was recovered unharmed. The arrest brought a temporary end to the public danger, but the community was left reeling from the loss of one of its protectors.

The Legal Case and a Sudden Death in Custody

Matthew Dye was charged with two counts of deliberate homicide in connection with the deaths of Deputy Terpsma and Merrisa Walker, as well as one count of attempted deliberate homicide for shooting at the Eureka officer. He made his first court appearance on Monday afternoon in a courtroom packed with law enforcement officials from various agencies. Dye did not enter a plea, and the judge did not set bail, indicating the severity of the charges.

Loc twn lcso deputy ryan terpsma
Photo: thewesternnews.com

Just two days after his arrest, however, Dye’s case took another shocking turn. On Wednesday evening, officers at the Missoula County Detention Facility, where Dye was being held, responded to his cell after he appeared to be having a medical emergency. Detention staff assessed him and determined he needed to go to the hospital. As he was being transported, Dye became unresponsive, and life-saving measures were initiated. He was later pronounced dead at St. Patrick’s Hospital.

The Missoula County Sheriff’s Office has requested that the Missoula Police Department investigate the death, which has been officially classified as a “medical emergency.” Video and documentation from the detention facility have been handed over to the police, while Lake County Sheriff’s Office deputy coroners are conducting the coroner’s duties. An official cause of death is pending the outcome of the investigation.

Watch: Lincoln County Sheriff's deputy and woman killed in Friday night shooting

“It has been trying times in Lincoln County during the last year,” said Lincoln County Sheriff Darren Short in a press release covered by vp-mi.com. “We are all deeply affected by the loss of Deputy Terpsma but know we can count on our community to support the Sheriff’s Office and each other as we grieve the loss of this fine young man.”

The tragedy has drawn statewide attention and condolences. Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen stated, “Lincoln County Deputy Ryan Terpsma answered the call and made the ultimate sacrifice in service to his community. He will not be forgotten.” In a statement that reflects a common sentiment in the state, he added, “In Montana, we back the blue.” Governor Greg Gianforte ordered flags to be flown at half-staff in honor of Terpsma.

The sequence of events—from the initial disturbance call to the fatal shooting, the manhunt, and the sudden death in custody—leaves many questions unanswered. While the legal case against Dye was progressing, his death in custody introduces a new layer of complexity to the investigation. The Montana Department of Justice’s Division of Criminal Investigation is leading the probe into the shooting itself, while the Missoula Police Department now has the task of determining what happened to Dye in jail. For the Eureka community and the broader law enforcement family in Montana, the pain is profound, and the search for understanding continues.

Eureka shooting Montana: Deputy and woman killed, suspect in custody
Lincoln County Sheriff’s deputy shot and killed in Eureka, Montana

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