The person at the center of this case
Five-year-old female (Missoula, Montana, 1974)
Homicide · Closed - Offender Deceased
48 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 known 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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location
Lead #3Davis worked as a school bus driver in Alaska (late 1974/early 1975), security guard at Arkansas School for the Deaf and Blind, and volunteered with Big Brothers/Big Sisters in Arkansas—were there any 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 found in a culvert near I-90 in Turah with evidence of head trauma, stab wounds, and sexual assault. Davis also attempted to abduct an eight-year-old girl in Bath, New York in 1973 and traveled extensively across the United States throughout his life, holding various positions that provided access to children. Investigators seek information about similar cases Davis may have committed during his decades of cross-country travel and residence in 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.
💡
clue
Lead #4Davis was known to smoke menthol cigarettes—could this detail help identify him in other unsolved cases from his residences in Pennsylvania, South Dakota, New York, and Arkansas?
👤
person
Lead #5Are there other victims or witnesses from Davis's employment history or residences who experienced suspicious incidents that were never reported or connected to him?
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
Davis linked to attempted abduction of eight-year-old girl in Bath, New York
👤
1974
Child abducted near Missoula
Five-year-old female abducted near her home in Missoula, Montana
🔍
1974
Body found in culvert
Victim's body discovered approximately 10 miles east of residence in culvert near I-90 in Turah, Montana with head trauma, stab wounds, and evidence of sexual assault
🕵️
2012
Offender deceased
Richard William Davis died in 2012; cases linked to him posthumously
Key Locations
Interactive map showing important locations related to this case
Case Information
Incident:January 1, 1973
Last Updated:April 29, 2026
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Case Information
Incident:January 1, 1973
Last Updated:April 29, 2026