Homicide suspect arrested; body of Ronan man recovered

The Lake County Sheriff’s Office announced Friday that officers have arrested a suspect in the alleged homicide of Ronan resident Ed Loder. The 70-year-old suspect, James Lawrence of Polson, is being held at the Lake County Jail on charges of homicide and tampering with evidence.

According to a press release, officers have been “conducting an around-the-clock investigation” since Loder was reported missing Sept. 4, with the aid of other law-enforcement agencies, including the Montana Highway Patrol, Flathead Tribal Police and Game Wardens, Lake County Search and Rescue, Flathead County Search and Rescue "and the many others not mentioned who aided in this investigation."  

Lawrence cooperated with the investigation, which resulted in the recovery of Loder’s body at 1:30 p.m. Friday in the area of Twin Lakes, southeast of St. Ignatius.

Police say his body has been transported to the Montana State Crime Lab for an autopsy.

Loder, the proprietor of Collision Service on Timberlane Road in Ronan, was reported missing on Wednesday, when Lake County Dispatch took a report of a missing person at around 12:30 p.m.

According to a press release from Lake County Sheriff Don Bell, a caller told dispatchers that the 67-year-old was apparently missing and requested the assistance of the sheriff’s office in locating him. The last confirmed contact with Loder was on Friday, Aug. 30.

The sheriff described the circumstances surrounding his disappearance as “suspicious due to evidence being located near his home that led investigators to believe Ed may have been assaulted and injured.”

Loder’s house is located on Timberlane, adjacent to his auto-body repair shop.

The Sheriff's Office extended "our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Mr. Loder."