Missoula, MT – A 51-year-old man has been charged with deliberate homicide after the body of a 37-year-old woman was discovered in a car at a Missoula gas station on Sunday, November 24. James Edward Brown appeared in court on Tuesday, November 26, to face charges related to the death of Audrey Bird.
According to court documents, police were called to a Sinclair gas station at the intersection of East Broadway and Madison after receiving reports of an unresponsive woman in a vehicle. When officers arrived, they found Bird’s body inside the car, leading to a swift investigation into the circumstances of her death.
Brown, who had known Bird for several months, is accused of assaulting and strangling her before driving her body to the gas station. He has been charged with one count of deliberate homicide, one count of Partner Family Member Assault, and one count of unlawful restraint.
The court documents state that Brown and Bird had been together over the weekend before her death. Investigators allege that Brown beat Bird and then strangled her, before transporting her body to the gas station where it was later discovered by police.
Brown has a history of criminal behavior, including previous domestic violence charges and a drug-related offense. If convicted of deliberate homicide, Brown could face the death penalty or a minimum sentence of 10 years in prison.
Brown’s next court appearance is scheduled for December 9. The investigation into Bird’s death is ongoing.
