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Missoula double murder: One suspect jailed, another remains at large

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Preston Rossbach (Missoula County Sheriff’s Office photo)

MISSOULA – Missoula police have arrested a suspect in connection with Friday morning’s double murder at a Missoula motel.

Preston Rossbach, 18, was taken into custody around 5 p.m. Friday, according to the Missoula County Inmate Roster.

The incident began as a call of a “disturbance” at the Mountain Valley Inn on the 400 block of West Broadway around 1 a.m. on Friday morning.

Police arrived to find three victims with gunshot wounds, with a man and a woman already dead. The other wounded man was transported to the hospital. His current condition is unknown.

Missoula Police Lieutenant Ed McLean told MTN News that Rossbach was interviewed by detectives and then arrested in connection with the murders.

Meanwhile, the search is ongoing for the primary person of interest in the case, Jonathon Whitworth, 27, who police say was last seen on foot in the Lolo area. Lt. McLean said on Saturday that there have been reports that Whitworth may have also been seen in the Stevensville area.

He is described as being 5’11” and about 185 pounds, possibly armed, and dangerous.

Jon Whitworth is a Native-American male who is 5’11″ and weighs 185 pounds. He has brown hair and brown eyes. (courtesy photo)

Missoula Policeissued an arrest warrant accusing Whitworth of deliberate homicide on Saturday.

Anyone who sees him is asked to contact local law enforcement immediately, and anyone with information about the incident itself is asked to contact Detective Mark Blood at (406) 552-6281.

MTN’s Connor McCauley and Mahkia Clark contributed to this report