The Molt man who is suspected of killing his neighbor, has pleaded not guilty to one count of deliberate homicide in Stillwater County District Court.
Jeffrey Hardman, 48, has been charged with killing Michael Blattie, 33, on October 15th.
Authorities found Blattie dead from a gunshot wound at his home on Molt-Rapelje Road but the details about the incident, as well as a possible motive have not been released.
Hardman remains in the Yellowstone County jail where he's being held on $1,000,000 bond.
(from November 12, 2009) The suspect charged in the fatal shooting of a Molt man last month left a threatening message on the victim's cell phone the same day of the shooting.
Court documents released Thursday indicate that investigators also found a note in the home of Jeffrey Hardman, 48, signed by Hardman, in which he asks for forgiveness, saying, " I can't take the guilt. God save me and Mike please. I hope Mike's family can forgive me".
Hardman, a neighbor of Michael Blattie, is charged with deliberate homicide in connection with Blattie's death on October 15th. Court documents also reveal Hardman admitted his involvement in Blattie's killing to a third party.
Details regarding a motive were not disclosed and Hardman's arraignment date was set for Monday, November 16th.
(from the archives) The Stillwater County Sheriff's office arrested a man in connection with the death of a Molt man earlier this month.
Sheriff Cliff Brophy says deputies arrested 48-year-old Jeffrey Lynn Hardman of Molt at 4:30 this afternoon.
Brophy would not give details but says the investigation led to Hardman in the death of 33-year old Michael Blattie.
Blattie was found dead from a gun shot would on October 15th at his home at 2180 Molt-Rapelje Road.
Brophy says at this time he's not certain of the Hardman's relationship to Blattie.
The Sheriff does not anticipate any more arrests in this case and is awaiting results from the Montana State Crime lab.
Hardman is in custody at the Yellowstone County Detention Facility.
Montana state investigators are hoping to find more information about the death of a Molt man, by searching his neighbor's house.
John Strandell with the Montana Department of Criminal Investigation confirmed Friday morning, that state investigators and Stillwater County officials are searching a rental home on 33-year-old Michael Blattie's property. On October 15, Blattie was found dead from a gunshot wound inside his home on Molt Rapelje Road.
Strandell says investigators have been busy working on the case and following up on leads, which lead them to search the rental property. He says authorities have been searching the property since Thursday and will conclude Friday afternoon.
So far, no arrests have been made.
FIRST REPORT: The death of Molt man last Thursday has been determined to have been a homicide.
The Stillwater County Sheriff's Office, in conjunction with the Montana Department of Justice, Division of Criminal Investigation, has confirmed that the victim, Michael Blattie, 33, died from a gunshot wound.
DCI Investigations Bureau Chief John Strandell released this statement Thursday morning stating, "While investigators from both Stillwater County and the state are continuing to actively investigate this homicide, at this point we can confirm that the victim died from a gunshot wound."
At this point no one is in custody.
Strandell says they are following up on leads and gathering information from people who knew Blattie.
Authorities have no suspects at this time.
