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Montana Teen's Cold Case Solved After 50 Years
7 Oct
Summary
- A 16-year-old girl vanished in 1978 after leaving a party.
- Her remains were found days later, victim of assault and stabbing.
- DNA and genealogy finally identified the killer in 2026.
In 1978, a 16-year-old Montana girl disappeared from a birthday party. She was last seen walking home in the early morning hours but never arrived. Her body was discovered later that day by a school bus driver, revealing she had been sexually assaulted and stabbed 18 times.
The case remained cold for almost five decades, with numerous theories investigated by law enforcement yielding no results. In 2026, the Yellowstone County Sheriff's Office announced a significant breakthrough. Angelo James Stallsmith Sr. was identified as the killer through DNA evidence and genetic genealogy.
Stallsmith, who passed away in 1990 at the age of 41, had his DNA previously in CODIS, but no match was found until 2024 when genetic genealogists revisited the case. Investigators obtained DNA from a 1982 fingerprint card, leading to the confirmation of Stallsmith's involvement. The murder is believed to have been a crime of opportunity.
