Crime and Courts

Investigators say drugs fueled violent Dixon home invasion and murder

Posted: Dec 18, 2012 9:12 PM by Irina Cates (Missoula)

DIXON - More information is emerging about the brutal murder of a Dixon man who fought to try to save his life and his wife's.

An autopsy revealed Doug Morigeau was stabbed 54 times in that attack, and was beaten with a gun.

Authorities say the home invasion appears to be random; Cheryl Morigeau told investigators she and her husband didn't know the man who forced his way into their house and attacked them with a knife.

The suspect is Nathan Calvert of Missoula, 32 years old; he is charged with deliberate homicide, attempted deliberate homicide, aggravated burglary and robbery.

Investigators believe Calvert was high on a synthetic marijuana drug called "spice" when he attacked Doug and Cheryl.

Prosecutors say in an interview with law enforcement Calvert said "...he had been smoking spice for one-and-a-half to two weeks almost constantly."

Court documents also say he was smoking it the day of the attack and that "...he had been hearing voices and hallucinating while smoking spice."

Prosecutors say on December 6, Doug and Cheryl were watching TV when they heard a noise outside. Doug opened the door to see what it was, saw nothing, and started to close the door when Calvert barreled into the home.

Doug started to fight with the intruder, trying to get him out of the house, but prosecutors say Calvert knocked him to the ground and attacked him.

Cheryl asked Calvert what he wanted and that's when prosecutors say he came after her and cut her throat.

Doug then got up and grabbed Calvert and even though Cheryl was severely injured, she managed to get up off the floor and run out of the back door to a relative's house for help.

Officers arriving at the scene saw Calvert run into the house, out the back door and into a nearby field, and that's where he was arrested.

Investigators say he told them he didn't know why he killed Doug, with prosecutors saying Calvert told officers, "...that Morigeau would not die and he kept stabbing him in the neck, stomach and all over."

He also said Doug kept coming at him trying to kill him. Prosecutors also say Calvert told investigators he stabbed Cheryl in the neck, but didn't know how many times.

Calvert is being held in the Sanders County Jail in Thompson Falls on $1 million bail.

A family benefit and auction for the Morigeau family is being held on Wednesday from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. at Two Eagle River School in Pablo.

There will be Indian tacos, an auction, raffles, and a bake sale.

Doug was a longtime employee at the school, where his wife also works. Donations will be accepted.

The Montana Department of Corrections says that Calvert's criminal history dates back to 2002.

Officials say all but one of the following offenses were misdemeanors:

2002 - partner/family member assault
2003 - assault
2007 - assault
2008 - assault, partner/family member assault
2009 - criminal mischief, possession of drug paraphernalia, disorderly conduct
2010 - disorderly conduct, partner/family member assault (felony)