Mother’s Day Murder-Suicide Claims Four Lives In Montana

Montana isn’t usually a place you associate with violent crime, especially not something as horrific as what unfolded over Mother’s Day weekend in Kalispell. While we’re lucky to live in a quieter part of the country, tragedies still happen—and this one has shaken a lot of people.

Four people are dead in what authorities are calling a murder-suicide in northern Kalispell. Among the victims were two young children—one just 6 years old, and the other only 7 months.

At this time, the details are still coming out, but investigators believe 33-year-old Nicholas Olson-Hartley shot and killed his wife, 27-year-old Katie Olson-Hartley, along with their two children, before turning the gun on himself.

Kalispell police responded to the home on Werner Peak Trail around 5:52 a.m. on Sunday. Officers were sent there after receiving multiple 911 calls from Nicholas, who reportedly made concerning statements before abruptly hanging up.

When officers arrived, they forced their way into the home and discovered the bodies of the entire family. Investigators now believe the murders had already taken place before Nicholas made the calls to 911. Interviews are ongoing as officials work to piece together exactly what happened and why.

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This story is absolutely heartbreaking, and our thoughts are with the extended family, friends, and first responders affected by this tragedy. As we continue to learn more, let this serve as a reminder of how important it is to check in on the people around us. You never really know what someone might be going through.