Month: July 2023

by Travis Mateer

It’s officially fire season in Montana, and an image from an urban camper posted on Facebook compelling his fellow campers to NOT start campfires got me thinking about the summer I helped authorities identify a homeless man who brutally murdered another homeless man under the Reserve Street bridge.

Before the FBI joined the hunt for the homeless man who COULD HAVE been caught in Missoula if local cops had believed several people, including me, about where Kevin Joseph Lino was before fleeing town, this psychopath was living down the Kim Williams trail with a gang of street youth. They moved locations to the Reserve Street area after a campfire got out of control and started running up the side of the mountain.

Lino’s gang didn’t mesh well with other campers in the area, and some kind of argument precipitated the beating, torture, and execution of Gilbert “Jack” Berry. I had a client living in this area, so the day the body was found in the river, I was on my way to deliver his weekly cash allowance from his payee when the girlfriend of the murdered man waved me down.

The girlfriend was sitting with several people behind a business on Mullan road, near the Reserve Street intersection. She told me what happened to her boyfriend, including details like symbols being carved into his unconscious body before Lino shot him in the head with a 9mm handgun.

I immediately biked back to the Poverello Center, wrote up what I was told, and delivered the information to Sheriff Carl Ibsen.

Here’s some local reporting, after the murder, about the homeless situation in Missoula that summer (emphasis mine):

Missoula may be a tourist destination, but a more sinister type of visitor is raising concerns within the community.

Local law enforcement agencies called a meeting last week after a local transient, Gilbert “Jack” Berry, was brutally beaten, tortured and killed by several non-local transients.

Two of the suspects were arrested and charged with felonies in conjunction with the July 30 murder. But the man who allegedly pulled the trigger, Kevin Lino, has not been apprehended. Berry’s murder was followed by an alleged rape, perpetrated by another transient who listed no address when he appeared in Missoula Justice Court.

Earlier in July, a woman was attacked while she was walking home along the Higgins Avenue Bridge. William Ashley Sandel, the transient man who was charged with the crime, told police he wanted to “do something with someone new” and admitted to grabbing another woman running along the Kim Williams Trail the week before.

So, why wasn’t Lino apprehended in Missoula? He wasn’t apprehended here because law enforcement didn’t move fast enough when they had actionable information. I told one officer where Lino reportedly was (Kiwanis park, beating one of his Pitbulls), then a homeless man I know told a cop the exact apartment where Lino was hiding, and finally the manager of the bus station called when she saw Lino and his accomplices in their car before they fled town.

One of Lino’s accomplices, before she became an accomplice to murder, was photographed and featured in a local photography book. And, strangely enough (because that’s my life) so was I!

After helping the Sheriff’s Office identify Lino as the trigger man, I was told one of the people hanging out with the girlfriend, when she talked to me, was still loyal to Lino and was told to hang back and watch who talked. Did that worry me? Fuck yes it worried me, so I started my family vacation early and hit the road myself.

I thought that by leaving Missoula I would be heading TOWARD safety, but after reaching my destination in Colorado Springs, I found out Lino and his accomplices had been ticketed for panhandling by authorities JUST 10 MILES AWAY from where I was staying. How did I find this out? The director of the Poverello at the time, Eran Pehan, was friends with a local FBI agent, so she gave me a heads up.

I asked some local panhandlers about anything they’d heard, and they confirmed that law enforcement was checking camps for Lino’s gang, but his crew had already continued south, to Louisiana, where he was eventually caught.

Going back to the Missoulian article, here’s a local cop’s accurate assessment of Missoula’s homeless dynamics at the time (emphasis mine):

“The person that was killed was a Reserve Street local,” Missoula Police Officer Andy Roy explained. “And the kids that killed him were a new group that came in. This would be a good reminder that we have a town that has open arms for these folks … but we don’t know anything about these people that are coming into our community.”

Andy Roy has a point. Lino is actually a suspect in a eerily similar transient murder case out of Massachusetts.

Roy, who is the city’s main bicycle police officer, primarily deals with the homeless and transient population. He said there’s a big difference between the local transient population and the newcomers. The locals heed his warnings and abide by city ordinances, for the most part. But when he approaches the new transients, Roy said he’s consistently met with a “lousy” attitude.

He explained that over the past few weeks there has been an influx of transients coming in and overstaying their welcome in camps near the Kim Williams Trail and off the Reserve Street Bridge. He would like to see a multi-agency task force work together to monitor the camps before the behavior moves downtown.

My downtown pal, Officer Roy, was right at the time, and he’s still right. There are multiple sub-populations that make up the broader homeless population, and only those with direct and frequent contact, like service-provider and cops, seem to understand this reality. This is one reason I interact with non-corrupt cops so well.

I hope those who are on the receiving end of my frustration about “urban camping”, like the Executive Director of the Clark Fork Coalition (who finally DID call me back claiming not to have received my other messages) understand that I’m not exaggerating the safety issues with homeless camps that her political expediency is causing her to ignore until this week.

But don’t take my word for it, here’s the FBI from the national CBS report (link above):

Before I ended my aggravating phone conversation with the ED of the CFC, she told me she is only interested in talking about solutions. Ok, Karen, let’s talk about solutions.

A new homeless plan is being discussed as the budget talks continue here in Missoula, but there are LOTS of people who don’t want to see me have ANY input because of what I know. But one unexpected supporter of my local truth-finding efforts has given me some incredible insight into how publicly-funded retaliation operates in this town, and it’s beyond alarming.

To ensure our local officials are aware of what I’m aware of, I went to the Housing and Redevelopment Committee this morning to make a public comment. Here it is:

https://vimeo.com/848799567?share=copy

Yes, my knowledge of local homeless/transient dynamics is extensive, so to conclude this post, here’s a reminder that some missing people are never found, because some murders are never solved.

Last year I was abruptly reminded of a Lino accomplice–Monte Swanson–who disappeared in Louisiana, never to be heard from again. Why abruptly? Because Missoula is still a small town, and I briefly worked at a warehouse with his ex-girlfriend.

If you see the value in what I’m doing with my hyper-local focus on backyard realities, Travis’ Impact Fund (TIF) is one way to support my work, and making a donation at my about page is another.

Thanks for reading!

by Travis Mateer

According to the Missoulian, two juveniles were stabbed somewhere near this footbridge spanning the Clark Fork river. While no one is in custody, the public is being assured that ALL parties have been talked to about this stabbing. From the link:

A call came in to Missoula 911 at about 12:06 a.m. on Saturday morning reporting self-defense that caused bodily injury. Police were dispatched to the scene and took a report about a juvenile who allegedly stabbed two other minors near the footbridge, according to Missoula Police spokesperson Whitney Bennett.

Bennett said officers identified everyone involved in the call, including possible suspects. She said as of Tuesday, no one was arrested. Clothing was seized at the scene by officers and logged as evidence.

One person was transported to the hospital for injuries.

Bennett also said prior to the stabbing, a call came in about 15 minutes beforehand from an anonymous caller saying people with weapons were trying to fight. The caller abruptly hung up and didn’t answer when dispatch called them back for more context, Bennett said.

When I first read this, I immediately thought of the Ben Mousso case. Who was Ben Mousso? Three years ago he was a drug customer, but the drug deal didn’t go so well, so Ben got stabbed in a bathroom, then died. Did anything happen to the stabber, Josh Paniagua? Nope. But he WAS later arrested after building a “torture chamber” for his mom.

From the link:

19-year-old Florence teen is charged with felony assault for threatening his mother with a hammer before barricading himself away from police in her home.

Joshua Michael Paniagua, who was charged with felony drug possession in January after an incident in which investigators said he stabbed another man who was trying to rob him of his marijuana, was charged in Missoula County Justice Court on Monday with assault with a weapon, a felony which carries a possible 20-year prison sentence.

Paniagua’s mother called 911 around 11 p.m. on Saturday to report her son was “freaking out,” stating he had screwed all of the doors shut and saying his mother was “possessed by the devil,” Missoula County prosecutors said in charging documents. The woman was calling from a neighbor’s house, where she had fled after he “came at her with a hammer,” according to court documents. Paniagua had similar episodes on previous occasions, typically induced by alcohol and drug use, she told authorities.

I covered this lawful stabbing when it happened, so here’s some articles to check out:

BREAKING: Missoula County Attorney’s Office Reviews Drug Dealer’s Right To Stab His Customer To Death (June 30th, 2020)

Pabst Hides Behind Reasonable Person Standard To Explain Not Prosecuting Budding Psychopath Josh Paniagua (July 6th, 2020)

Nine Months Later, Questions Persist Around The Violent Deaths (Murders?) Of Sean Stevenson And Ben Mousso (September 22nd, 2020)

What Is Joshua Paniagua Being Sentenced For? Because He Was Never Charged With Murder Thanks To County Attorney, Kirsten Pabst (December 10th, 2021)

While there’s nothing yet tying these recent stabbings to drugs, the area where this happened has been a big hangout spot for street kids all summer long, so I’m not surprised a stabbing happened here. I’m also curious which detectives have been assigned to this case. I can think of one set of initials that would raise an immediate red flag with me, considering I keep hearing stories about him from nearly everyone I talk to on the streets.

The police officers who will have the most interaction with young people recreating with drugs and peacocking-jumps off the bridge in this part of town are the downtown BID police officers, who generally patrol on bike. Here’s the lucky officers from the PD directory:

I’ve had plenty of interactions with previous BID Officers when I worked at the Poverello Center, so I know how challenging this position can be. One even admitted to me, near the end of his tenure, how the street kids ran down his patience to the degree he was worried he was going to shoot one (he didn’t).

While I do my own biking around town, I’ll be sure to ask about this stabbing, along with other things, like the Joey Thompson case, and the weed-laced Fentanyl allegations.

If you would like to assist my ability to make these inquiries, Travis’ Impact Fund (TIF) is one way to help, while making a donation at my about page is another.

Thanks for reading!

by Travis Mateer

Last September I went on the airwaves of KGVO to criticize the Crisis Mill Levy after a homeless camp clean-up in the Reserve Street area led to an act of violence against two staff for the Department of Transportation. I have tried several times to get back on the radio to promote Travis’ Impact Fund (TIF), but I no longer get responses from a previously responsive Nick Chrestenson. Why?

My theory is that KGVO is essentially a conservative cop radio station, so I suspect my criticism of the Missoula County Sheriff’s Office has rendered me persona non grata in their hallways. To back up my claim, I offer this figurative hand job at the end of this KGVO article featuring AG Knudsen:

Knudsen is one of the few public officials who relish the opportunity to answer direct questions from KGVO’s listeners.

Isn’t this a nice depiction for a man who is probably going to be challenging Senator Tester in his reelection efforts this year? I think it’s VERY nice of KGVO to be so supportive of our Attorney General as he keeps his focus on the SOUTHERN border, while ignoring cartel inroads that have snaked into our state under his watch.

Maybe things are worsening because Montana’s technology isn’t up to par. Here’s Knudsen’s man, Will Selph, testifying last year about needed upgrades after an audit indicted the MERLIN system isn’t up to the task.

From the link:

A new state information technology audit shows that the Montana Department of Justice is not meeting goals and requirements for security, structure and governance, exacerbated by high turnover within the department, and is at risk for not converting the state’s out-of-date motor vehicle record management properly.

In testimony before the Legislative Audit Committee, lawmakers heard about ongoing problems within the department that is looking to transition away from the MERLIN system, which keeps record of vehicle license, registration and drivers licensing and identification cards.

Will Selph, the DOJ chief of staff, told legislators that MERLIN has reached the end of its programming life and the state will switch to a new system, estimated at more than $54 million. In the meantime, however, the Montana Legislative Audit Division reviewed five areas of the existing system – IT governance, IT management, IT human resources management, IT risk management, and IT security management – and each category received either a “needs improvement” or “unsatisfactory.”

Auditors said the worry is that if they don’t fix the problems now, the new system will have the same limitations and liabilities lawmakers are concerned about with the current one.

Do I think Selph and the AG office are capable of doing this? Nope, I don’t think they are, because just doing simple NON-technology things, like preserving evidence, isn’t something every Sheriff’s Office in Montana is capable of doing, especially in the County west of Missoula.

There’s a lot going on behind the scenes that I can’t talk about yet, and there’s a new effort developing to shut me up, so I’m going to be as careful as possible as I determine what I should put out publicly, and what I should continue sitting on, despite the increasing risk to myself and people I care about.

If you appreciate the type of coverage you won’t find anywhere else, Travis’ Impact Fund (TIF) is one way to support my work, and the donation button at my about page is another.

Thanks for reading!

by Travis Mateer

City Council did NOT get a Travis-free Council meeting on Monday despite my intention to return from my forrest retreat and just chill. Why couldn’t I just chill? Because I read two articles from two sad-sorry local media outlets that I found a bit confusing and maddening, so, after a quick shower, I headed downtown to express my confusion that a property could be PURCHASED for $2.1 million dollars, then potentially SOLD to a buyer for $1 million in this kind of HOT housing market.

Huh? (emphasis mine):

The Missoula Redevelopment Agency purchased the apartments for $2.1 million and plans to sell them for $1 million, and Blueline has the first option to purchase.

“This is an investment in affordable housing,” said Ward 1 Representative Heidi West. But her Ward 5 colleague John Contos wondered about the city’s approach to the apartments. Why not hire someone to manage it instead of selling the project, he asked.

“That just seems like a lot of money to drop,” said Contos. Emily Harris-Shears, housing policy specialist, said the city is pursuing its agreement with Blueline for the first right to purchase at this time.

“I’m glad that this is kind of coming to a positive outcome for our community,” said Councilor Amber Sherrill in Ward 4.

Again, huh?

https://vimeo.com/848229546?share=copy

While I acknowledged the unknown complexity I’m sure exists in this deal, that doesn’t change my opinion about the conflicted relationship the Missoula Redevelopment Agency has had with Blueline. Is no one else concerned with the stink emanating from MRA?

When you look at the picture I took yesterday of Bridge Apartments, you can see the Poverello Center in the upper left corner. That means you’re looking east, down Broadway, with the Clark Fork river on the right.

After taking the picture, I watched a VERY drunk woman stumble down the street from the West Broadway Island area, barely able to walk. This was around 5:30pm, after I read the two confounding and maddening articles.

The second article comes from the Missoula Current, a publication that falsely told its readership that I shouted at City Council earlier this year (I did not).

From the link (emphasis mine):

Flowing through the center of Missoula, the Clark Fork River is an amenity treasured by some but taken for granted by others. It provides aesthetic pleasure, recreational opportunity and habitat for wildlife. As a result, it spawned the creation of at least one organization dedicated to its preservation, the Clark Fork Coalition.

The Clark Fork Coalition has spent years trying to restore and maintain the river, from advocating for federal cleanup of the upper Clark Fork mine waste and Smurfit Stone mill industrial chemicals to shepherding the removal and cleanup of the Milltown Dam and reservoir in 2008. And every spring, they rally volunteers to troll the riverbanks around town picking up trash.

A lot of time, money and effort has been spent on cleaning a river that is now being polluted by a more urban source. But the issue of homeless encampments and tents near the river is a thorny one, said Karen Knudsen, Clark Fork Coalition executive director.

“Every year, we see this happening, especially in the spring, when there seems to be a real influx of unhoused populations,” Knudsen said. “In Missoula, as we grow, the public spaces decrease, they’re not welcome in some of them anymore, and there’s just no housing for them. The unhoused are forced to exist in these increasingly tenuous areas, and for sure, floodplains and riparian areas are tenuous places, especially when rivers are rising.”

I have tried speaking to Karen Knudsen several times, but she has yet to return my phone calls. I’d love to explain to her how I have found success after funding my own effort to remove 2.84 TONS of trash from just one tiny little spot built by a drug dealer who is allegedly peddling weed laced with Fentanyl.

It’s incredibly frustrating to have the same reporter who came out to my clean-up for the story (only to have Martin “Gomer” Kidston spike it) now writing such a long article on something I’ve been working so hard on addressing.

I guess she was just waiting for more important users of the river, like people with canoes, to get horrified by needles on the riverbank (emphasis mine):

The two friends paddled under the Reserve Street Bridge where, about a month earlier, Missoula Search and Rescue had evacuated a homeless encampment threatened by rising water. Then, south of Garden City Compost, they rounded a bend and stared at the left bank. It was littered with garbage that had been carried by a surging river, everything from plastic bags and bottles to car batteries and pieces of furniture. On one beach, Moss found a green vinyl drug kit – complete with needles and a spoon – embedded in the sand.

“What we discovered was all the stuff from the homeless camp had washed down. It was creepy to be on the beach because there were (hypodermic) needles everywhere,” Ream said. “That beach that really struck me, probably because it was the first one we came to. Everything, including heavy stuff, was deposited high up on the bank. But we saw stuff on beaches as far down as the confluence of the Bitterroot and Clark Fork.”

Well, shit! Imagine how much MORE crap would be in the river if I hadn’t spent $1,200 dollars on a dumpster for Earth Day.

I’m not fishing for gratitude here. What I AM doing is continuing to ask questions, and making public comments, and reading painfully maddening local media articles so YOU DON’T HAVE TO!

I also attend committee meetings (when my work schedule allows) and guess who doesn’t have to work this Wednesday? That’s right, I’ll be going COMMITTEE CRAZY instead, because there’s a lot on the docket for the last full committee day of July, so stay tuned later this week for that report.

If you appreciate my commitment to local reporting, Travis’ Impact Fund (TIF) is one way you can support what I’m doing, while making a donation at my about page is another.

Thanks for reading!

by Travis Mateer

This post will NOT be a reoccurring series, just a one-off look at a Montanan I discovered because I bought the book pictured above, and the Masonic embossing on the pages piqued my interest, along with one of the two labels attributing previous ownership of the book scratched off.

I agree with this quote from Jo Rainbolt, seeing clearly where we’re going definitely requires knowing where we’ve been, and when I look at the obituary for Warren “Skip” Heyer Jr., it’s clear we’ve been at war for a very long time.

From the link:

Warren K. “Skip” Heyer, Jr. left this earthly world May 25, 2022, and was born in Missoula, Montana in March of 1945.

Skip was active in 4-H, and was Missoula County’s Representative for both State and National Congress. He graduated from the University of Montana, a Commissioned Second Lieutenant in the United States Army, serving with distinction in Germany, Korea and Vietnam, honorably discharged in 1972. His awards include the Soldier’s Medal, Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster, Air Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Ribbon. 

The obituary also indicates that Warren was active in his local Masonic lodge (emphasis mine):

Skip managed Montgomery Ward Automotive in Billings, Montana, and Bakke Tire in Missoula. He was also active in the Masonic Lodge, Shriner Clowns, and Past Master (1993-94) of Missoula Masonic Lodge 13.

While there’s nothing inherently wrong with being a Mason, I think it’s fair to ask ANY organizational entity, like the Masons or Shriners, a simple question: is the benefit of membership SOLELY for the membership? Because, if there’s supposed to be a societal benefit, I’m not seeing one. In fact, it’s almost like society is going in the OPPOSITE direction of enlightenment.

Where have we been? And where are we going? I don’t think we, as a country, have a collectively accurate read on the answer to either of those questions.

If you appreciate my local perspective on larger issues, like war and stuff, Travis’ Impact Fund (TIF) is one way to support my work, while making a donation at my about page is another.

Thanks for reading!