Foul Play Suspected in Valentine’s Day Disappearance

HELENA – On February 14, 2013, Nicole Waller left Fairview, Montana to return home to her three young children in Kalispell.  When Waller, 32, didn’t return, family members reported her missing; Waller’s vehicle, a maroon 1999 Ford Expedition, was eventually found on the side of Highway 2 outside of Poplar.  Although an extensive search was conducted, Waller was never found.  Nearly ten months later, Waller has still not been located, and investigators are asking anyone with information to contact them.

“Mothers traditionally don’t abandon their children,” noted Agent Mark Hilyard of the Montana Department of Justice’s Division of Criminal Investigation.  “This is clearly not normal behavior and has every indication of a homicide.”

Although law enforcement won’t go into details of the investigation, a number of factors point to foul play.  Agent Hilyard references Waller’s abandoned car as an example.  “Someone witnessed suspicious activity taking place. It also appeared odd that her children’s pet guinea pigs were still in the vehicle when it was recovered,” Agent Hilyard said.  He urged the public for assistance with the missing woman’s disappearance, pointing out that often a single observation that someone may consider unimportant can break a case open.

Agent Hilyard added, “There are three children and a family looking for some closure to their loved one’s disappearance.  And there’s someone out there who knows the truth.”

Anyone with information regarding Nicole Waller’s disappearance may anonymously contact Agent Mark Hilyard in the Division of Criminal Investigation at the Montana Department of Justice by calling (406) 791-2709 or the Flathead County Sheriff’s Office at (406) 758-5600.

-END-

Contact:  Anastasia Burton
406-444-9869 | aburton@mt.gov