ANACONDA – A 64-year-old Anaconda woman was found murdered in her East Part Street home Tuesday and Butte police have the man suspected of that murder in custody.
Anaconda Police Chief Tim Barkell said police found Shelley Schafer dead from wounds to the head in her residence, a duplex at 709 E. Park Street about 1:50 p.m. Tuesday. On Wednesday, Butte police arrested Troy Johnson, 53, in connection with the Anaconda murder.
Investigators believe Schafer was hit with a blunt object at least two times in the head. The victim’s vehicle, credit cards, cash and some jewelry were missing. Johnson, who is from Billings, is believed to have been living in the duplex owned by the victim’s family without permission at the time of the murder, Barkell said.
Butte police were involved in a vehicle pursuit with Johnson about 3 a.m. Wednesday morning. During the pursuit, Johnson crashed the vehicle at Holmes Avenue and Hansen Road and ran away. Police captured him a few hours later and he remains in custody.
This is an on-going investigation and this story will be updated as new information becomes available.
-John Emeigh reporting for MTN
