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.
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.
