HELENA — Authorities have opened a homicide investigation for a Helena man missing for 11 years whose remains were recently identified.
Watch the full report below:
Samuel David Dickerson, age 26, was last known to be in Butte in early October 2015, which is when his abandoned vehicle was found in a parking lot near the corner of North Main Street and Daly Street in the Walkerville neighborhood, according to a Wednesday joint news release from the Lewis and Clark County Sheriff's Office and the FBI.
Dickerson's vehicle was found Oct. 13, 2015, and investigators determined through cell phone records, witness interviews and other techniques that he was in town earlier that month.
The case went cold. On Aug. 7, 2019, a U.S. Forest Service biologist conducting a lynx survey in the Bullion Parks area of the Helena National Forest reported discovering a human skull. Deputies from the Lewis and Clark Sheriff's Office responded and found additional skeletal remains, which were sent to the Montana State Crime Laboratory for analysis. Then later were sent to the University of North Texas where specialists extracted DNA and did a full dental analysis. That information was then compared against a national FBI database. The remains were later identified as belonging to Dickerson.
Dickerson had moved to Helena from Rapid City, South Dakota, in the late summer of 2015 and was known to travel both to Rapid City and Northern Idaho. He lived with roommates in Helena for several months and worked at both the McDonald's and Dairy Queen in town.
Investigators want to speak with anyone who may have encountered Dickerson in these areas, has information about his travels or activities leading up to his disappearance, or anyone who knew him during his time in Helena. Investigators are specifically seeking information about his whereabouts in September or October of 2015.
You can contact the Helena Crime Stoppers through their phone number 406-443-2000, or you can submit a tip online at www.helenacrimestoppers.com.
You can contact the FBI through their phone number 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324), or you can submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov
Lewis and Clark sheriff's deputies and the FBI also released a statement about Dickerson:
"Samuel David Dickerson was more than the victim of an unsolved homicide. He was a son, a father, and a loved one whose life was tragically cut short. More than a decade has passed since his disappearance, but our commitment to uncovering the truth about what happened to Samuel remains unwavering.
Samuel’s family has spent years searching for answers. His mother dedicated the later years of her life trying to find her son, hoping to learn what had happened to him before her passing. At the time of his disappearance, Samuel was also expecting a son of his own, a child he would never have the opportunity to meet or watch grow up.
We believe there are individuals who possess information that could help move this investigation forward. Whether that information seems significant or not, we urge those individuals to come forward. Even the smallest detail could be the missing piece needed to bring resolution to this case.
Our goal remains unchanged: to uncover the truth surrounding Samuel’s death, hold those responsible accountable, and provide his family with the answers they have waited more than a decade to receive."
