A Montana woman whose remains were recently found in rural Dunn County was reported missing in McKenzie County in November 2017, authorities said Wednesday.
Darlene Billie, a 55-year-old member of the Choctaw Tribe who lived on the Flathead Indian Reservation, was identified by the Dunn County Sheriff’s Office as the woman discovered on Sept. 3.
Dunn County Sheriff deputy Timothy Sul said local residents discovered the remains on private land in the badlands area of northwestern Dunn County.
In neighboring McKenzie County, the Sheriff’s Office received a report related to Billie’s disappearance in early November 2017, said McKenzie County Lt. Matt Watkins.
“The followup work that we conducted led to items located in the general area, which then helped us to figure out where she was at,” Watkins said.
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With the information McKenzie County investigators have at this time, they do not suspect foul play, Watkins said. However, he added there are additional interviews to be conducted and things investigators are following up on.
Billie's remains were transported to the State Forensic Examiner’s office in Bismarck for an autopsy, Sul said.
Watkins said his office has been actively investigating since receiving the report in November 2017, but had chosen not to issue a press release about the missing woman for reasons he could not disclose.
“Our side of the investigation is still open and active and ongoing,” said Watkins, adding that McKenzie County plans to release more information after the reports are complete.
Billie’s connection to North Dakota was through her significant other, who worked as a truck driver near Watford City. Rick Mikesell, who employed Billie’s significant other, said Billie spent time going back and forth between western North Dakota and Montana.
“She always rode in the truck with him,” said Mikesell, who also is from the Flathead Indian Reservation.
Tribal Police on the Flathead Reservation received a missing person report for Billie on Jan. 5 from a family member, said Tribal Police Chief Craige Couture.
The following day, tribal police entered the missing person report into the National Crime Information Center database, Coutre said.
Watkins said McKenzie County officials had reasons for not submitting information to the national database, including a lack of information.
“That will all come out in our report,” Watkins said. “There were some things that we just didn’t know until January.”
McKenzie County has been working with the FBI, Department of Homeland Security and Flathead Tribal Police on the investigation, Watkins said.
Coutre said the discovery has brought sadness to family and extended family on the Flathead Reservation, but also a sense of closure.
Missoulian reporter Patrick Reilly and Bismarck Tribune reporter Blair Emerson contributed to this report.