In this episode of Crime Watch Daily Updates: Mike Crites, an avid outdoorsman, built a home without electricity or running water on his 80-acre Montana property, the perfect place for just himself and his wolfdogs. While Mike got along with some of his neighbors, he started feuding with John Mehan. The two argued about an access road to Mike’s property that went through John’s land, and at one point, John even pointed a gun at Mike.
Enter Leon Ford, a former military man who owned the property north of Mike. Leon allegedly wanted to use Mike’s land as a shortcut to get to his own house, but Mike refused. They started feuding, and unfortunately, it turned deadly.
Mike started to get nervous that one of his neighbors was going to kill him. Then, one day in June 2011, he disappeared.
After not hearing from him, Mike’s friends and loved ones speculated he ran away. Months later, a Forest Service employee discovered a bag of dismembered remains, with the head missing. At the scene, investigators also found specific cable ties that would soon link to Leon. He supposedly had access to those cable ties because of his work at the Naval Air Station near Seattle.
The remains were identified as Mike in January 2012, and his head was eventually discovered miles away.
John Mehan was arrested later for tampering with evidence because he supposedly moved cameras that investigators were using in their investigation. He later pleaded no contest to criminal mischief, a misdemeanor.
In August 2020, nine years after Mike’s disappearance, Leon Ford was arrested in Washington for deliberate homicide and tampering with evidence. A coroner concluded Mike had been fatally shot in the head before he was dismembered. The next year, Mike’s sister, Connie, filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Leon, who is still awaiting trial.
Let’s look back at this tragic case of feuding neighbors that turned deadly.
Typically inept police.
Goofiest Sherriff ever.
Tampering with evidence must be a pretty small crime cause they didn’t say anything about the psycho doing any time. You’d think tampering in a murder case would be a little more serious than tampering in a j-walking case. Lol
This case should go to cold case officers they,'ll get it justices for mike
bunch of babies having a fit.
Sheriffs office didn’t do their job. They sounded scared of ford & mehan. They couldn’t be man enough to act civilized. Two disgusting pieces of 💩💩!! Rest in paradise Michael🌻🌻💟✝️💟
Case ended with a miss trial. Prosecutors say they will try again.
Mehan should be a suspect in this case for more than tampering with the video surveillance.
My sister's ranch owned the right of way. Bully moves in & enclosed the road. Sis won, but it took 23 years. Where do they make these thugs?
My family Ranches from1830 on. These right of way disputes have often ended in blood.
Sheriff is a neutered, paper pusher. Could he care any less? Their plan of action? Move away good people.
A lot of departments dropped the ball for years . He nearly murdered his ex wife years before and no one listened to her or took her seriously . Trial should be in may
He had the WORST friend ever!!! What a coward ass DOG of a man. When he needed you the MOST you were selfish and worried for your own safety when having you there very likely would have saved his life. I hope you can't sleep at night. That is terrible.
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Why cant we just watch the show
Why do you tell the story before we even get to watch it , i skip the start of every video cause of that haha
The title says "arrested for murder".. I dont see the arrest
Are ALL Americans assholes? They are listed as the worst tourists in every nation due to being assholes. Then look at them they all seem to hate each other. They act like angry children. What is wrong with them?
Wow, the Sheriff’s Office is liable.
I think the Sheriff was scrared of that lunatic. This IS AN OPEN AND SHUT CASE…I DONT GET IT!
Those lovely people had to leave their home???? This is wildly insane. Any updates? I couldnt find anything on google search!
Typically you have easement clauses in your property deed when you purchase your land or home. It boggles my mind how this became an issue.
So they arrested Ford and supposedly trial set for last August but I cannot find sentencing info?