GREAT FALLS — The search for 46-year old Alicia Wood continues at the High Plains Landfill several miles northeast of Great Falls. Cascade County Sheriff Jesse Slaughter said during a news conference on Wednesday, December 4, 2024, that Wood was reported missing on November 30; the reporting party said that she had last been seen on November 22.
Wood's car - a 2005 black Cadillac - was found on November 27 between Brady and Conrad and impounded. Conrad police officers found blood inside the car. Conrad Police Chief Cory Smith asked the Montana Department of Justice's Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) to assist with the investigation.
Slaughter said at the news conference that a "person of interest" was taken into custody on an unrelated charge of probation violation in connection with Wood’s disappearance. The name of the person has not been released at this point.
The investigation led them to the county landfill near Floweree in Cascade County, operated by Republic Services.
DCI has taken the role of lead investigating agency, with DCI agents supervising the search.
A search zone the size of about three football fields was established at the landfill, and scores of people wearing protective gear have been sifting through the debris for any evidence.
On Tuesday, December 10, Slaughter said that aerial drones have been flying overhead to obtain a “birds-eye view” of any potential evidence, flown by drone-certified pilots from the Great Falls Police Department.
Several people have asked if cadaver dogs have been brought in to assist with the search. Slaughter replied that they researched this type of investigation and talked with agencies who have done this before, such as Colorado DCI, Texas Rangers, and The Body Farm, and were advised not to use cadaver dogs for the following reasons:
Dangerous for the dogs falling through holes in the garbage.
Glass, sharps, and needle sticks with dirty objects.
Dogs are dogs and they will try to eat the garbage.
Dogs are very distracted in this setting and success is unlikely, especially in proportion to the risk.
Slaugher added that they will not rule out this option, and if appropriate at some point may try, but it’s "not in the plan yet."
Slaughter also noted that “Sonny and his team with HL Ventures have Been operating their excavator nonstop,” adding that the excavation is going very fast considering how big the area is. He added that Les Payne and his Cascade County Public Works has been running two front-end loaders all day, every day, assisted by a bulldozer from Republic Services.
Slaughter noted that his agency is working in partnership with DCI because the Sheriff's Office is responsible for Coroner duties in Cascade County. In the event Alicia is found deceased, the Sheriff's Office "will play an integral role in the investigation."
He added: "Please send your prayers to Alicia’s family and friends, and all of the amazing heroes working so hard to find her, and those supporting those efforts. We cannot express enough how grateful we are for the immense state-wide support we’re receiving."
If you have information about Alicia Wood’s disappearance, you’re asked to call the Division of Criminal Investigation at 406-444-3874, or email contactdci@mt.gov.
Among the agencies assisting with the investigation, according to Sheriff Slaughter:
- Cascade County Sheriff/Coroner's Office
- Great Falls MT Police Department
- Vaughn Fire & Rescue VFD
- Cascade County Community Emergency Response Team
- Cascade County Disaster & Emergency Services
- Great Falls Fire Rescue
- Republic Services
- Pondera County Sheriff’s Office
- City of Great Falls - Local Government
- Public Works
- HL Ventures, aLLC
- Sun Prairie Rural Volunteer Fire Department, Montana
- Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks
- U.S. Forest Service Law Enforcement
- Black Eagle Volunteer Fire Department
- @Conrad Police Department
- Montana Department of Corrections
- Cascade County Search and Rescue
- Montana Department of Justice
- Lewis & Clark County Sheriff's Office
- united states marshall service
The above list is not all-inclusive; we will add other agencies as we get more information.
