HUNTLEY, MT – Authorities in Yellowstone County have arrested a 41-year-old man accused of killing his girlfriend’s grandfather, reportedly motivated by a dispute over access to the elderly man’s bank accounts.
Deputies responded to a 911 call on Nov. 10 regarding a suspicious death at a motor home on Robson Lane in Huntley. A family member had found 80-year-old Donald Finch dead inside and raised concerns about the circumstances of his death. Emergency personnel found Finch without any visible injuries, prompting further investigation.
A subsequent autopsy revealed that Finch died from strangulation. The medical examiner classified his death as a homicide, launching a criminal investigation into the circumstances surrounding the attack.
According to charging documents, Finch had recently relocated from Idaho to stay with his granddaughter and her boyfriend, Dean W. Frost, the man now charged in the homicide. Relatives say Finch was unhappy with his living arrangements and had spoken of returning to Idaho just two weeks after his arrival in Montana.
Family members also told investigators that Finch believed his granddaughter had taken up to $38,000 from his bank accounts, and that she had explored having him declared legally incompetent. Despite these concerns, the granddaughter has not been charged with a crime.
When questioned by investigators, both the granddaughter and Frost denied knowledge of Finch’s financial matters or any wrongdoing. During the inquiry, law enforcement obtained a court order to search Frost’s electronic devices, which reportedly revealed incriminating text messages exchanged with Finch’s granddaughter.
In the messages, Frost allegedly admitted to killing Finch and referenced actions tied to the ongoing financial dispute with the victim. He also claimed to have helped his girlfriend with illicit activities, including forgery, and expressed frustration over his role in the events.
Messages retrieved by detectives show the granddaughter responding harshly to Frost’s confessions, referring to him as a “snitch” and a “rat.” The investigation did not establish evidence linking her directly to the death, and she currently faces no criminal charges.
Frost’s arrest came on June 30 during a routine traffic stop after deputies discovered he was driving with a suspended or revoked license. Once in custody, authorities formally charged him with deliberate homicide in connection with Finch’s death.
Frost remains held at the Yellowstone County Jail, with bail set at $500,785. The date of his next court appearance has not yet been determined, and the case continues to develop as authorities review the evidence.