A 41-year-old man from Montana, Dean W. Frost, is facing charges of deliberate homicide after he allegedly smothered his girlfriend’s 80-year-old grandfather, Donald Finch, to death.
The incident reportedly took place after Finch cut off the couple financially by refusing to grant them access to his bank accounts.
The Murder and Investigation
On November 10, 2024, the Yellowstone County Sheriff’s Office responded to a 911 call regarding a suspicious death inside a motorhome located on Robson Lane in Huntley, Montana. The caller, a family member, discovered Finch’s body and suspected foul play.
When authorities arrived, they found Finch’s body with no visible signs of trauma. However, an autopsy later revealed signs of strangulation, and the cause of death was determined to be homicide.
According to court documents, Finch had moved from Idaho to Montana just two weeks before his death to stay with his granddaughter. However, Finch was reportedly unhappy with the living conditions and had expressed plans to return to Idaho.
He had also informed relatives that his granddaughter had stolen $38,000 from his bank accounts and had made attempts to have him declared legally incompetent.
Frost’s Involvement and Text Messages
Frost and Finch’s granddaughter initially denied any knowledge of the circumstances surrounding the death, as well as any knowledge of Finch’s finances. However, investigators uncovered crucial evidence on Frost’s electronic devices.
Text messages reportedly sent by Frost to Finch’s granddaughter revealed the extent of his involvement in the crime.
In one message, Frost allegedly wrote, “I killed your f—ing grandfather,” and in another, he claimed, “I have done everything you asked of me including what I did to your grandfather.” The granddaughter, reportedly upset by the messages, allegedly responded by calling Frost a “snitch” and a “f—ing rat.”
Frost’s Arrest and Charges
Frost was arrested on June 30, 2024, after a traffic stop for driving with a revoked or suspended license. Upon learning of his arrest, authorities charged him with Finch’s murder.
He is currently being held in the Yellowstone County Jail on a $500,785 bond. Investigators are still looking into the case, and it is unclear when Frost will appear in court.
The murder of Donald Finch highlights a tragic case of financial exploitation and violence, with Frost allegedly going to extreme lengths to maintain control over the elderly man’s finances. As the investigation continues, Frost remains behind bars, awaiting his day in court.
