Suspect arrested in weekend homicide in Great Falls

GREAT FALLS, Mont. (AP) - A 44-year-old woman is charged in a weekend killing in Great Falls.

Cascade County prosecutors charged Pamela Jean Courtnage with deliberate homicide in the death of a 69-year-old woman whose body was found at Courtnage’s house Saturday. She also is charged with stealing the woman’s pickup truck. The victim’s name hasn’t been released.

The Great Falls Tribune reports (gftrib.com/2rRwnXS) the victim had come to Great Falls to do some maintenance work on Courtnage’s house.

Investigators say there were signs of a struggle in the house. The victim was found outside. Prosecutors say she had suffered a blow to the head and her neck had been cut.

Missoula County officers arrested Courtnage later Saturday near Clearwater Junction. She remained jailed in Missoula on Tuesday with her bail set at $500,000.

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Information from: Great Falls Tribune, https://www.greatfallstribune.com