Found Deceased MT - Melissa Ruth Arnold, 37, homeless, Missoula, 22 Feb 2018

[Shin Masamura]

Name: ARNOLD, MELISSA RUTH

Aliases: DOUGHERTY, MELISSA R
DOUGHERTY, MELISSA RUTH
SMITH, MELISSA RUTH

• Missing Since 02/19/2018 (State site says 22nd)
  
• Missing From Missoula, Montana
• Classification Missing
• Date of Birth 08/24/1980 (38)
• Age 37 years old
• Height and Weight 5'2, 102 - 140 pounds
• Distinguishing Characteristics Caucasian female. Blonde hair, blue eyes. Arnold's nickname is Mel, and she may use the last names Dougherty and/or Smith. She has a pierced lower lip, pierced ears and a tattoo on her upper arm.

Melissa Ruth Arnold – The Charley Project
https://app.doj.mt.gov/enforcement/missingpersons/searchdetail.aspx?RecordKey=29800

Details of Disappearance
Arnold was last seen in Missoula, Montana on February 19, 2018. She has never been heard from again. She was homeless at the time of her disappearance, but maintained semi-regular contact with her father, who helped with some of her needs. Her father reported her missing after several weeks passed without his hearing from her. Few details are available in Arnold's case.

 

[Gardener1850]

Unidentified remains found near Frenchtown: MT - MT - Body found in field, Smurfit-Stone Mill near Frenchtown, 24 Aug 2019

 

[TatianaBarbie]

Melissa's FB:

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Melissa's last public post was Feb 20, 2018, which was 2 days before she went missing. The Charley Project (linked in Post #1) was updated May 17, 2019, which is the most recent mention of Melissa being missing. Melissa's sister, KS, mentioned on her FB page how Melissa had been sadly missing for one year back in February, 2019.

 

[iulia]

Melissa Ruth Arnold NamUs page The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

 

[indicolite22]

Unidentified remains found near Frenchtown: MT - MT - Body found in field, Smurfit-Stone Mill near Frenchtown, 24 Aug 2019

According to an August 29 article, the body was identified as Jeremiah Colin Spotted Blanket, 34, of St. Ignatius.

Names released of two bodies recently discovered in Missoula

 

[?!?]

Melissa Ruth Arnold NamUs page The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

Is this our gal? Match on name (incl. middle) and birth date....

https://www.mylife.com/melissa-dougherty/e186721200822

 

[?!?]

According to an August 29 article, the body was identified as Jeremiah Colin Spotted Blanket, 34, of St. Ignatius.

Names released of two bodies recently discovered in Missoula

THIS looks like her:

https://www.mylife.com/melissa-dougherty/e186721200822

 

[dotr]

July 15 2022 rbbm.

New developments in missing person cold case

Police are investigating new developments in a missing person cold case in western Montana.

nbcmontana.com

''MISSOULA, Mont. — Police are investigating new developments in a missing person cold case in western Montana.

A Missoula Police Department spokesperson confirms a wallet with an ID for Melissa Arnold turned up near St. Regis last month.

Arnold was reported missing in February 2018.

Police collected the wallet and other items near the Clark Fork River and sent them to the state crime lab for analysis.

Arnold’s family is gathering in St. Regis and planning to search the Clark Fork River this Saturday and Sunday.

They tell us they expect about 40 volunteers to join the effort, including a dive team and boats.''

''The family created a Facebook page to post new information and connect with volunteers. You can visit the page by clicking here.''

 

[imstilla.grandma]

MTN News talked with Arnold's sister who says finding her belongings is heartbreaking, but the family is still looking for her – looking for answers.

“It was just devastating. Life stopped,” Melissa’s sister Sharelle Mendenhall said.

Arnold went missing from Missoula in February of 2018. Mendenhall, says she remembers her as caring, adventurous, and as a good cook.

“I remember when we were little for some reason, she climbed in my bunk bed with me, Mendenhall said.” And I remember looking up at the ceiling and not wanting to move because I didn’t want to wake her up.”

Arnold was 37 when she disappeared and years later, her family hasn’t given up hope. “And now we get a call like hey we found some of her belongings, after four and a half years, like the case was cold,” Mendenhall said.

She told MTN News their goal now is to find and closure, “that was my prayer, at the beginning of this year, was answers.” Someone found Arnold’s pants, belt, and wallet in Sanders County in June.

“Seeing those pictures and seeing how dilapidated they were, it was hard, that’s where the emotions completely changed,” Mendenhall said.

“I do know that the Missoula Police Department investigated this case very thoroughly back in 2018 and then when additional leads or tips came in those were also investigated,” Mendenhall recalled. “When those personal belongings were discovered, a detective from MPD went out to that location and collected the items.”

Missoula Police Department spokeswoman Lydia Arnold says the items will be sent to the Montana State Crime Lab for forensic testing.

“Any time somebody has a missing relative, we want to express our condolences that has got to be very challenging, and we understand that has got to be very challenging when you have somebody missing whos a loved one to you.”

MT - MT - Melissa Ruth Arnold, 37, homeless, Missoula, 22 Feb 2018

Name: ARNOLD, MELISSA RUTH Aliases: DOUGHERTY, MELISSA R DOUGHERTY, MELISSA RUTH SMITH, MELISSA RUTH Missing Since 02/19/2018 (State site says 22nd) Missing From Missoula, Montana Classification Missing Date of Birth 08/24/1980 (38) Age 37 years old Height and Weight 5'2, 102 - 140 pounds...

www.websleuths.com

 

[iulia]

Melissa's NamUs page has been removed.

A post on the Missing: Melissa Arnold FB page was updated a week ago. Sadly, she's been found deceased.

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UPDATE: my Sister, Melissa Ruth smith (Arnold) was found in the search area confirmed this past Wednesday by a DNA match. Her remains were near the initial search area but hidden by a the lush green vegetation at the time of the search. At the end of September, a hunter found the remains and called them in. Although this is never what we wanted, bringing her home to be put to rest with her family is exactly what we needed. We get what so many families don’t, closure. I want to thank every single person who read my sisters story, supported us along our journey, left a loving comment, those of you who shared her post or said a prayer. I want to thank the organizers of this page who helped us in sharing her story. We are heart broken right now, but share a balanced gratitude for all the efforts we all did as a community to bring her home. Thank you for reading and have a beautiful day.