Suspect Arrested in 2011 Death of John Mike Crites
Lewis and Clark County investigators helped secure the arrest of a 66 year old man in Oak Harbor, Washington, on charges tied to the 2011 disappearance and death of John "Mike" Crites. The arrest ends a long unsolved local case and sets in motion extradition and court proceedings that will bring answers to Crites family and the community.
Lewis and Clark County law enforcement announced on December 4, 2025 that Leon Michael Ford, 66, was arrested in Oak Harbor, Washington and charged with deliberate homicide and tampering with evidence in the death of John "Mike" Crites. Three detectives from the Lewis and Clark County Sheriff’s Office assisted Island County deputies in taking Ford into custody, Sheriff Leo Dutton said.
Ford is accused of "purposely or knowingly" causing Crites’ death on or around June 26, 2011, and of disturbing Crites’ remains between June 2011 and September 2012 in order to interfere with the investigation. Crites went missing in June 2011. Dismembered remains were discovered near MacDonald Pass in October 2011, and his skull was found at a separate location in September 2012. This is the first time someone has been charged in the case.
Sheriff Dutton said Ford will be arraigned in Oak Harbor and that authorities will seek to return him to Lewis and Clark County in the coming days. Bond was set at four hundred thousand dollars by a Justice of the Peace during the initial court appearance in Helena. Prosecutors in both jurisdictions will coordinate on extradition and on how evidence and witness testimony will be presented in Montana courts.
The arrest follows years of work by a county cold case unit that never considered the investigation closed. For local residents, the development represents a rare breakthrough in a case that has lingered in the community for more than a decade. Family members expressed relief at the new charges, which officials say may allow long delayed questions about motive and circumstances to be addressed in court.
The coming weeks and months will focus on legal proceedings and on the county prosecutor’s review of forensic and testimonial evidence gathered over more than a decade. As authorities move to bring Ford to Montana, community leaders and law enforcement officials said they will continue to prioritize transparent updates and support for those affected by the case.
