MISSOULA — A second murder charge has been filed against Johnathan Bertsch, the man involved in a March shooting that killed two people and left two other with severe injuries.
Missoula county prosecutors filed a deliberate homicide charge against Bertsch on Tuesday for the death of Julie Blanchard. Blanchard, 52 years old, died from her injuries in a Washington state hospital on June 3rd.
Bertsch is now charged with two counts of deliberate homicide - one for the death of Blanchard, and one for the death of Shelley Hays.
He's also charged with attempted deliberate homicide in the shootings of Montana Highway Patrol Trooper Wade Palmer and Julie's son, Casey Blanchard.
Julie, Casey, and Shelley were shot on March 14, 2019 off Expressway Boulevard when they pulled over after noticing a vehicle behind them had their flashing lights on. That's when prosecutors say Bertsch opened fire on them.
Shelley Hays died at the scene. Both Casey and Julie Blanchard were taken to a hospital with gunshot wounds.
Bertsch was later arrested near Evaro, accused of shooting Montana Highway Patrol Trooper Wade Palmer.
Both Casey and Trooper Palmer continue their recovery at their Stevensville homes.
A trial date for Bertsch has been set for August 2020 in Missoula. There has been no mention of any possible motive for the shootings.
