Jeremy Gentry was arrested for stealing her car. He said he couldn’t remember where she was because he was using drugs. Two months before her disappearance, police had visited Montgomery’s home because someone reported that two convicted felons were taking advantage of her. She refused to press charges, saying they were helping her. One of these felons worked at a local business where Montgomery had paid a large sum of money for services that may not have been provided.

Shortly after Montgomery vanished, David Mariotti and Tracie Naffziger were arrested. They confessed to killing her. Mariotti said he strangled her after she caught Naffziger stealing from her. They hid her body, used her credit cards, and pawned her belongings before dumping her body 75 miles away.

Naffziger pleaded guilty to helping cover up the crime and using Montgomery’s credit cards and agreed to testify against Mariotti. Mariotti was convicted of first-degree murder but received a life sentence instead of the death penalty because the jury couldn’t reach a unanimous decision on the death penalty.

Montgomery was a well-respected member of her community, known for her gardening and floral arranging. She had few family members. The circumstances surrounding her death strongly suggest foul play.