Officials investigating another homicide

After four months, officials have ruled a suspicious death a homicide.

On Oct. 18 2016, at 7:30 a.m., Lincoln County Sheriff’s Deputies and the Libby Volunteer Ambulance responded to a Libby area residence for an unresponsive female, 53-year-old Tami Sunell, who was determined to be deceased.

A Montana State medical examiner determined that the cause of death was manual strangulation and ruled the death as a homicide.

Lincoln County undersheriff Brandon Huff told The Western News back in October that the death was suspicious and an investigation was ongoing.

During the Sheriff’s Office Detectives and Lincoln County Coroner’s initial investigation, the coroner was unable to determine a cause of death and ordered an autopsy to be performed by the Montana State Medical Examiner. Circumstances at the Montana State Crime Lab caused the results of the autopsy to be significantly delayed.

Sheriff’s Office Detective Nate Scofield is continuing his investigation into the homicide and has requested that anyone that may have information related to the case contact him at the Sheriff’s Office, (406)293-4112.