Authorities in Montana are in their fourth day of an intensive manhunt for Michael Paul Brown, a 45-year-old Iraq War veteran accused of walking into a neighborhood bar and gunning down four people in broad daylight.
The shooting happened around 10:30 a.m. Friday at The Owl Bar in Anaconda, Montana — a quiet mining town of just over 9,000 residents, about 75 miles southeast of Missoula.
According to Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen, Brown entered the bar with a rifle and killed bartender Nancy Lauretta Kelley, 64, along with three patrons — Daniel Edwin Baillie, 59, David Allen Leach, 70, and Tony Wayne Palm, 74 — all locals.
Knudsen described the attack as “cold-blooded” and “without reason whatsoever.” Authorities believe Brown knew his victims — he lived next door to the bar and was a regular.
Family Speaks Out: Years of Mental Health Struggles
Brown’s niece, Clare Boyle, told MTN News that her family is “heartbroken over the situation and the four lives that were lost.”
She said Boyle he moved around a lot in his childhood as a “military brat” because his father also served.
She said Brown suffered from both PTSD from his Army service and schizophrenia, which worsened after the death of his mother. According to Boyle, the loss of his last surviving parent was a breaking point:
“The trauma from losing his last parent broke Mike. The VA said he no longer qualified for assistance with obtaining prescriptions and help.”
Boyle described her uncle’s mental decline in disturbing detail — including delusions of being a time traveler and claiming he no longer drank alcohol because it “blocked his wizard powers.” She said he was harmless most of the time, unless provoked or mocked about his delusions.
The family tried multiple times to get him help through both the Montana VA and the Montana State Hospital, but Boyle said they hit dead ends. The state hospital, she explained, wouldn’t take him without a court order — and a court order required proof that he was a danger to himself or others.
“We warned them that a snap could happen and that he was not of sound mind, and we were still left with no answers and nowhere to turn,” Boyle said.
A Chaotic Escape — in His Underwear
Immediately after the shooting, Brown fled the scene in an unusual way — surveillance photos released by the Montana Department of Justice show him barefoot and only wearing only boxers.
Officials say Brown ditched some of his clothes, stole a vehicle with clothing and camping gear, and may now be fully dressed.
The vehicle was later recovered, but Brown was not inside. Knudsen said law enforcement backed off from pursuing it earlier in the chase when they realized Brown was likely armed.
Authorities believe he is now traveling on foot and could be hiding in the rugged terrain around Stumptown Road, Barker Lake, and other areas he knows well from growing up hunting and camping nearby.
Military Background
Brown served as an armor crewman in the U.S. Army from 2001 to 2005, deploying to Iraq from early 2004 until March 2005. He later joined the Montana National Guard from 2006 to 2009, leaving military service at the rank of sergeant.
Friends and family say he has long struggled with mental health issues, including PTSD. His niece told the Associated Press that Brown often became disoriented and “didn’t know where or when he was.”
Locals described him as someone who would tell elaborate — and possibly embellished — war stories. Some said he was fine when taking his prescribed medications but unstable when off them.
Public Safety Warning
Officials are urging residents to stay alert. Knudsen called Brown “armed and extremely dangerous” and warned that he could return to Anaconda. Public events in the area have been canceled out of caution.
A $7,500 reward is being offered for information leading to his capture. Anyone with sightings or tips is urged to call 911 or 1-877-WANTED2 immediately.
“This is still Montana,” Knudsen said. “Montanans know how to take care of themselves. But please, if you see him — call it in.”
© 2025 The Salty Soldier. All rights reserved.
Reproduction without written consent is strictly prohibited.
