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Authorities find body of murder victim near Glenns Ferry
Elmore County authorities recovered the body of a Boise murder victim last Thursday, in a ravine just below Morrow Reservoir north of Glenns Ferry.
Sheriff Rick Layher said Boise police called him that morning and asked for their assistance in finding the body of John Albert Schmeichel, 22, of Boise. Based on an investigation of Schmeichel's murder Boise police had a rough location for where the body had been buried.
"We weren't sure where, initially, to find it," Layher said, as he and several deputies began their search, "but they called back later that day with some more exact information and we found it a little while, later."
Schmeichel's body was found in a shallow grave about two-and-a-half feet deep, covered by about six inches of soil.
The afternoon before, on March 23, Boise police had received a tip that a murder had occurred in Boise "likely within the past seven to nine days." A short time later two people believed connected to the murder were taken into custody after a traffic stop and held on other charges while the investigation continued. The case would eventually lead to several arrests in connection with the murder and a drug distribution and burglary ring to which the victim may have belonged.
Within 36 hours, police had arrested Ronald Huntsman, 46, whom they believe committed the murder.
Boise police said they believe Schmeichel was a passenger in a vehicle traveling on I-84 within the Boise city limits when, over a dispute involving property allegedly stolen during a burglary, Huntsman shot him once in the head, killing him. In addition to Huntsman and Schmeichel, two other people were in the vehicle at the time.
Authorities believe Huntsman and the other two people, not immediately identified, then drove to the remote site in Elmore County and buried Schmeichel's body in the shallow grave.
Sheriff Layher said it is believed that location was selected because at least one of the people in the vehicle had done some fishing in that area in the past.
Boise Police, in cooperation with the Ada County Coroner have positively identified the murder victim as John Albert Schmeichel, 22 of Boise.
Following an autoptsy, Ada County Coroner Erwin Sonnenberg confirmed Schmeichel died of a single gunshot wound to the head. Toxicology studies are pending. Sonnenberg said the autopsy results were consistent that the murder occurred seven to nine days before his body was found.
Huntsman was arrested late Thursday night at an apartment in the 3500 block of N. Five Mile. Huntsman surrendered peacefully after a citizen tip led police to the apartment.
Four people, including Huntsman were in the upstairs apartment. The Boise Police Special Operations Unit (SWAT team) set up around the apartment as nearby residents were evacuated.
When police had the apartment isolated, they made telephone contact with a male inside. When it appeared that telephone negotiations were not going to be successful, officers took batons and broke out several windows. At that point, the occupants of the apartment, three men and a woman, surrendered peacefully. Allwere taken into custody for questioning and Huntsman was booked into the Ada County Jail on first-degree murder charges.
After finding the body and arresting Huntsman, the next day Boise police arrested Barbara Dehl, 49, and her boyfriend, Larry Hanslovan, 43, both of Nampa, in connection with the murder investigation, and charged them with kidnapping. Detectives believe the kidnaping occurred prior to the homicide, but have released few other details. They believe Hanslovan, who lived with Dehl, was driving the '86 Toyota 4 Runner registered to Dehl when the murder occured, but Dehl was not present at the time.
Dehl was famous for her efforts to push the Idaho legislature to enact what became known as "Cassie's Law," a law that was designed to help protect juveniles from abusive boyfriends. Her teenage daughter had been killed by an abusive boyfriend back in the '90s.
In addition, in connection with that arrest, Boise Police arrested and charged six people after a three month multi-agency drug investigation involving the manufacture, distribution and sale of methanphetamine. Detectives said the drug investigation and the murder were not connected, except for the involvement of some of the same individuals.
Dehl was charged with Trafficking in methamphetamine. Boise Police detectives have also charged Dehl with Resisting and Obstructing after questioning her about the murder.
Detectives say their investigation is ongoing and more charges may be filed against others in connection with the murder case.