The suspect in a seven year-old murder case made his first appearance in a Montana courtroom on Monday.

Richard Phelps Edwards stood before State District Court Judge Blair Jones in the Stillwater County Courthouse in Columbus to face the felony charge of deliberate homicide.

According to court documents, Edwards allegedly shot and killed Daniel C. Lavigne in May of 2002. Authorities found Lavigne's body was found dead, in front of his house near Rapelje on May 13th.

Edwards, along with his wife, Sherry, had worked with Lavigne at a hog operation in Stillwater County owned by Donald Herzog.

Edwards and his wife, Sherry, left employment with the Herzogs on May 24, 2002.

Authorities were able to link the case to Edwards when Sherry, his now ex-wife, admitted to witnessing the murder.  

Court documents state that Sherry did not know the reason for Edwards shooting Lavigne, but stated that after leaving Montana, Edwards threatened Sherry numerous times that he would kill her and her family if she ever revealed her knowledge of the shooting.

Edwards is being held at the Yellowstone County Detention Facility on a $1 million bond as he awaits court.