Part of the Elise R. Donohue Lectures on the American West in Memory of Walter S. Rosenberry Lecture Series

Murder on Montana’s Hi Line from Surgeon to Sleuth: A Family’s Fight for Justice
In this captivating talk, Clem C. Pellett shares a deeply personal account of a cold case investigation that began with an accidental discovery. Acting as a citizen detective, he uncovered long-buried documents and a web of connections involving McCarthy-era communists, J. Edgar Hoover, and frontier justice in 1950s Montana.
His research brings to life vivid characters, both well-known and long overlooked, while offering new insights into Montana’s past. The story culminates in the dramatic capture of the state's longest-running fugitive killer and the emotional reunion of a family torn apart for decades.

Included with membership, $5/non-member 
Registration is required

Clem C. Pellett, a Montana native, is a retired, board-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeon trained at the Mayo Clinic. Over the course of his distinguished medical and dental career, he was recognized by his peers as one of Seattle’s top surgeons and received international acclaim from the people of Zimbabwe, Africa, for “meritorious service.” Driven by a deeply personal mission to uncover the truth behind his grandfather’s murder, Clem transitioned into a new chapter of his life. He earned a certificate in Private Investigation from Boston University and has since traveled extensively, sharing his extraordinary journey in pursuit of justice and family reconciliation. Today, Clem is also a freelance writer, the author of the true crime book MURDER ON MONTANA’S HI LINE (History Press/Arcadia Publishing), and a producer and actor in the feature film based on his story - PELLETT.