Local man arrested in connection with Owyhee murder

Willie Keith Rabey, 34, of Mountain Home was arraigned yesterday for conspiracy to commit first-degree murder in connection with a victim recovered on Oct. 21, Idaho Police said.

Montanna Rae Reed, 20, of Twin Falls was also arrested and charged for conspiracy to commit first-degree murder. Both are known associates of Nicholas Vandenberg of Melba, who is currently facing charges of first-degree murder, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony and destruction of evidence in connection to the death of a man who is believed to be 18-year-old Hunter Smith of Junction City, OR.

Owyhee County Prosecutor Douglas Emery states Smith died from at least one gunshot wound to the upper torso. Vandenberg is accused of stripping Smith of his clothes to make him harder to identify, and leaving the body in the desert off Hot Springs Road, about 15 miles north of the Nevada border and near Vandenberg's residence.

Reed and Rabey will be extradited to Owyhee County and booked into the Owyhee County Jail.

The killing remains under investigation by Idaho State Police.