The person at the center of this case
Five-year-old female (Missoula, Montana, 1974)
Homicide · Closed - Offender Deceased
58 days waiting
OFFENDER (DECEASED) - RICHARD WILLIAM DAVIS
Justice for Five-year-old female (Missoula, Montana, 1974) — the trail went cold in 2026, but the truth hasn't.
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Key leads to think about
🎯
suspect
Lead #1What other child abductions or homicides across Davis's extensive travel routes (Alaska, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Washington, Wyoming) may be connected to him?
🔍
evidence
Lead #2Davis carried a folding knife and handgun and drove multiple vehicles including a Nash Rambler, Oldsmobile 98, blue pickup truck, and sleeper cab truck—do any of these match witness descriptions in unsolved cases?
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clue
Lead #3Davis worked in positions with child access (school bus driver in Alaska 1974-1975, Big Brothers/Big Sisters volunteer, Arkansas School for the Deaf and Blind security guard)—were there unreported incidents at these locations?
Richard William Davis, a deceased offender, was linked to the 1974 homicide of a five-year-old girl abducted near her home in Missoula, Montana; her body was discovered in a culvert near I-90 in Turah with evidence of head trauma, stab wounds, and sexual assault. Davis is also connected to a 1973 attempted abduction of an eight-year-old girl in Bath, New York, and traveled extensively across the United States throughout his life. Investigators seek information about similar cases Davis may have committed during his decades of mobility across multiple states.
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More leads to consider
Beyond the top three above — each detail below could be the thread that pulls this case open.
👤
person
Lead #4Davis's employment history and residence timeline span decades across multiple states; did coworkers or acquaintances report suspicious behavior or knowledge of other victims?
Have information about any of these leads?
Even the smallest detail could be the key to solving this case.
Official wording
Source Narrative
Missoula, Montana - 1974 Bath, New York - 1973 Richard Davis was recently linked to the 1974 homicide of a five-year-old female abducted near her home in Missoula, Montana. The victim’s body was found approximately 10 miles east of her residence in a culvert near I-90 in Turah, Montana.
She sustained trauma to her head, stab wounds to her chest, and had been sexually assaulted. Davis is also linked to the 1973 attempted abduction of an eight-year-old girl in Bath, New York.
Davis primarily resided in Pennsylvania in the early 1960s; South Dakota (Lead, Deadwood, and Rapid City) in the late 1960s; Bath, New York in the late 1960s to late 1970s; North Little Rock, Arkansas, in the late 1970s to late 1980s; and Cabot, Arkansas, from the late 1980s until his death in 2012. Davis also traveled extensively across the country to include, but not limited to: Alaska, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming.
Davis held various jobs, to include working as a missionary on the Sioux Reservation in the early 1960s; working in the mines in South Dakota in the late 1960s; as a security guard at a winery/bar in Bath, New York, in the mid-1970s; driving a school bus in Alaska in late 1974/early 1975; as a security guard at the Arkansas School for the Deaf and Blind in the 1970s or 1980s; and as a truck driver in the early 2000s. Davis also volunteered at Big Brothers/Big Sisters in Arkansas in the late 1970s or 1980s.
Investigators are looking for similar cases Davis may be responsible for committing. Remarks: Davis was known to smoke menthol cigarettes.
He drove multiple vehicles, including: a Nash Rambler (driven in late 1960s), an Oldsmobile 98 (driven in early 1970s), a blue pickup truck (driven in late 1970s to 1980s), and a truck with sleeper cab (driven in early 2000s). Davis was known to carry a folding knife and a handgun.
He traveled cross-country, from New York to Alaska, but primarily resided in Pennsylvania, South Dakota, New York, and Arkansas.
Timeline of Events
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1973
Attempted abduction in Bath, New York
Eight-year-old girl nearly abducted in Bath, New York; Davis linked to this incident
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1974
Child abducted near Missoula, Montana
Five-year-old female abducted near her home in Missoula, Montana
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1974
Body found in culvert
Victim's body discovered approximately 10 miles east of her residence in a culvert near I-90 in Turah, Montana
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2012
Davis deceased
Richard William Davis died in 2012; linked to homicide through subsequent investigation
Key Locations
Interactive map showing important locations related to this case
Case Information
Incident:January 1, 1973
Last Updated:May 11, 2026
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Case Information
Incident:January 1, 1973
Last Updated:May 11, 2026