Huntley, Montana — A 41-year-old man, Dean W. Frost, has been arrested and charged with deliberate homicide after allegedly killing his girlfriend’s 80-year-old grandfather, Donald Finch, in November 2024. The victim was smothered to death inside a motor home, and investigators say Frost sent text messages detailing the fatal attack.
Details of the Crime
The Yellowstone County Sheriff’s Office responded to a 911 call on November 10, 2024, reporting a suspicious death at a motor home located in the 1700 block of Robson Lane in Huntley, Montana. The caller, a family member of Donald Finch, found his body and suspected foul play.
First responders discovered Finch’s body inside the motor home, but there were no visible signs of trauma. An autopsy conducted later revealed signs of strangulation, and Finch’s death was officially ruled a homicide.
Motive Behind the Murder
According to court documents obtained by Law&Crime, Finch had only recently moved to Montana from Idaho, just two weeks before his death, to stay with his granddaughter. However, he was reportedly unhappy with the living conditions and had planned to move back to Idaho. Finch had confided in other relatives that his granddaughter had allegedly stolen $38,000 from his various bank accounts and was trying to have him declared legally incompetent.
Frost and his girlfriend initially denied any involvement in the murder and claimed they were unaware of the victim’s finances. Finch’s granddaughter told investigators that she had access to her grandfather’s bank accounts but had never used them without his permission. She also allegedly threatened to sue the coroner’s office if they proceeded with an autopsy.
Text Messages Reveal Frost’s Involvement
After obtaining a search warrant for Frost’s electronic devices, investigators uncovered several text messages from Frost to Finch’s granddaughter. In one message, he reportedly wrote, “I killed your f—ing grandfather,” and in another, “I have done everything you asked of me including what I did to your grandfather.”
The granddaughter’s response to Frost included calling him a “snitch” and a “f—ing rat,” according to the Billings Gazette.
Frost’s Arrest
Frost was initially arrested on June 30 following a traffic stop where he was allegedly driving with a revoked or suspended license. Shortly after his arrest, authorities learned that Frost was the primary suspect in Finch’s murder and subsequently charged him with second-degree murder.
Frost is currently being held at the Yellowstone County Jail on $500,785 bond. It is unclear when Frost will appear in court for his charges.
Family Dynamics and Investigation
The investigation into Finch’s death revealed a complex family dynamic, with Frost allegedly assisting Finch’s granddaughter in actions related to her grandfather’s finances. Authorities say they are continuing to review evidence and piece together the sequence of events leading to Finch’s tragic death.
