MISSOULA — James Edward Brown, who is facing a deliberate homicide charge after Audrey Bird was found dead in a car at a Missoula gas station over the weekend, made his first court appearance on Tuesday, November 26, 2024.
Police responded to a gas station at the corner of East Broadway and Madison on Sunday for a report of an unresponsive woman in a car.
Brown, 51 years old, has been charged with one count of deliberate homicide, one count of partner-family member assault, and one count of unlawful restraint.
Court documents state that Brown and 37-year-old Bird had known each other for several months and were together over the weekend.
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Brown is accused of beating and then strangling Bird to death on or around November 24.
Court documents allege he drove to a Sinclair gas station with Bird's body in the vehicle, where she was later found by police.
Court documents state that Brown has a history of criminal behavior including domestic violence charges and a drug charge.
Brown is scheduled to appear in court again on December 9.
