Inset: Dean Webb Frost (Yellowstone County Jail). Background: The area in Huntley, Montana where Frost allegedly killed his girlfriend’s grandfather (Google Maps).
A 41-year-old man in Montana is accused of killing his girlfriend’s grandfather, allegedly smothering the 80-year-old man to death — and sending text messages about the fatal attack — because the victim refused to give the couple access to his bank accounts.
Dean W. Frost was taken into custody last week and charged with one count of deliberate homicide in the 2024 slaying of Donald Finch, records reviewed by Law&Crime show. Deputies with the Yellowstone County Sheriff’s Office on Nov. 10 responded to a 911 call regarding a suspicious death inside a motor home in the 1700 block of Robson Lane in Huntley, Montana, according to a report from Great Falls CBS affiliate KRTV. The caller was reportedly a family member who had discovered Finch’s body and believed the scene was suspicious.
Upon arriving at the scene, first responders located Finch’s body inside the vehicle, noting that he showed no visible signs of trauma. An autopsy conducted several days later reportedly showed signs of strangulation and Finch’s manner of death was ultimately determined to be a homicide.
In court documents obtained by the station, prosecutors said that Finch had moved from Idaho to Montana only two weeks before his death and had been staying with his granddaughter. However, Finch was reportedly dissatisfied with the living conditions and had already told other family members that he was planning on moving back to the Gem State.
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The 80-year-old man also told other relatives that his granddaughter — who is not currently facing any criminal charges — had stolen as much as $38,000 from his various bank accounts while making attempts to have Finch declared legally incompetent.
When questioned about Finch’s death, his granddaughter and Frost allegedly denied having any knowledge of what happened to the 80-year-old man as well as any knowledge of Finch’s finances. The Billings Gazette reported that Finch’s granddaughter told investigators that she had access to her grandfather’s bank accounts, but had never used them without Finch’s permission. The woman also allegedly threatened to sue the coroner’s office if it went through with her grandfather’s autopsy.
Investigators obtained and executed a search warrant for Frost’s electronic devices, which reportedly uncovered evidence that he was involved in Finch’s murder.
“I killed your f—ing grandfather,” he reportedly texted to Finch’s granddaughter. “I helped you forge a notary I’ve done more for you than I’ve ever done for anybody for free.”
He also allegedly sent Finch’s granddaughter a message saying, “I have done everything you asked of me including what I did to your grandfather.”
The granddaughter allegedly responded by calling Frost a “snitch” and a “f—ing rat,” per the Gazette.
Frost was arrested on June 30 following a traffic stop for allegedly driving with a revoked or suspended license, records show. Shortly after authorities learned that he was in custody, Frost was charged with Finch’s murder. He is currently being held in the Yellowstone County Jail on $500,785 bond.
It was not immediately clear when Frost would be required to appear in court.
