Bozeman homicide investigation ongoing, friends of victim react

Bozeman, Mont. — Police have identified the woman killed in a Bozeman homicide earlier this week as 50-year-old Shelli Waltermath of Gallatin Gateway. 

Authorities also named 62-year-old Steven Michael Dailey of Missoula as the suspect. In a Facebook Post, Gallatin County Sheriff's Office said Dailey shot and killed himself Thursday morning in a field not far from where Waltermath's body was found Wednesday night with multiple gunshot wounds. 
 
Bozeman police are still working to determine whether Waltermath and Dailey knew each other. Investigators have not said whether the case involved a random act of violence or a domestic dispute. 
 
As police continued to investigate, Nonstop Local spoke off camera with some of Waltermath's friends, who said they were still in shock. A friend of Waltermath’s called Nonstop Local on Friday afternoon, and while they did not want to appear on camera, they described Waltermath as a shining light in the community and one of the nicest people someone could meet in Bozeman. 
 
While police investigate the motive behind the homicide, Nonstop Local also spoke with domestic violence advocates, who explained some warning signs people can watch for in domestic disputes. Haven Domestic Violence Support Center Executive Director Katie Madison pointed to isolation as one example of the behaviors of abusers. 
 
"So, you have an abuser that is really working to manipulate the way that a survivor interacts with their communities. So, maybe they're being isolated from family, from friends and feeling the pressure from the abuser not to engage with their circles," said Madison. 
 
Police have not released much more information about Waltermath or Dailey, including how long they had lived in Montana. Nonstop local has reached out to friends and family to learn more.