At approximately 9 p.m. on the evening of November 13, 2001, William Ledeau was bludgeoned to death by being struck four time in the head with a blunt instrument. He had departed the home of his aunt, Joanne Ledeau, 934 3rd Ave South at 8:40 p.m., heading for his mother’s home at 1451 1st Ave. North when the attack occurred. He was highly inebriated. 

Investigation by the Great Falls Police Department (GFPD), identified Richard Burkhart as the perpetrator, and in September 2002, he was tried and convicted of the homicide with a sentence of life in prison.  The case was largely dependent upon the testimony of Michael Staley, who presented as a coconspirator to the act.  In January 2014, Staley recanted his statement against Burkhart.  It was subsequently learned that in September 2002, prior to Burkhart’s sentencing, a jail house confession had been made implicating James Hopkins and Arlin Bird in Ledeau’s murder.  Based upon the discovered jail house confession and Staley’s recanting, Burkhart’s conviction was vacated. Burkhart then filed suit for wrongful conviction. 

I was retained to examine the investigation. In that process, it was determined that investigators had acted with careless indifference and reckless disregard for the facts. Further, it could be proven that due to time and distance involved, it was impossible for Burkhart to have perpetrated the murder.