Reports have revealed the details surrounding the death of a family of four, including a mother and two children, who reportedly lost their lives at the hands of the patriarch.
Recently, a family of four was found deceased in a northwest Montana home. According to authorities, the father of the family took their lives. He did so even though he and the matriarch painted a happy and loving family image through all the endearing photos they shared on their Facebook accounts.
Authorities in Kalispell, a city of just under 30,000 near Glacier National Park, responded to a 911 call made shortly before 6 a.m. on May 11, 2025.
The call came from inside a home in Silverbrook Estates, a planned community bordered by the Stillwater River, known for its newly built homes and tranquil setting. According to Kalispell Police Chief Jordan Venezio, the call was placed by 33-year-old Nicholas Olson-Hartley.
When officers arrived at the scene, they found Nicholas, his wife, 27-year-old Katie Olson-Hartley, and their two daughters, just seven months and six years old, had been fatally shot. Authorities believe Nicholas committed the crime before turning the gun on himself.
“It appears Nicholas Olson-Hartley took the lives of his young family before calling 911,” Chief Venezio stated. “After making the phone call to dispatch, he took his own life.”
The police chief noted that the statements made during the 911 call were “concerning,” though specific details have not been disclosed. Investigators spent the day gathering evidence and interviewing neighbors, ultimately determining that the incident was a murder-suicide.
The tragedy has sent shockwaves through the tight-knit community of Silverbrook Estates, where homes often list for more than one million dollars. In a statement released Monday, May 12, Westcraft Homes — the neighborhood’s developer — expressed deep sorrow over the loss.
“We are deeply saddened by the recent tragic loss of one of our Silverbrook families,” the statement reads. “Our thoughts, prayers, and heartfelt condolences go out to all who are grieving — especially the extended family, neighbors, and friends affected by this unimaginable tragedy.”
The company also urged residents to appreciate each other and show love, expressing, “Let us honor the lives lost by fostering kindness, reaching out, and lifting one another up. Let us support, listen, and show compassion. Together, we can help by choosing compassion and knowledge.”
Before their deaths, both Katie and Nicholas shared heartwarming photos on their social media pages that painted a picture of a once-loving family.
Katie’s Facebook page, verified by NBC News, features joyful images of their daughters and affectionate snapshots of the couple.
In the comment section of a 2023 post beneath a photo of her and Nicholas surrounded by autumn leaves, a loved one of Katie’s named Kayla Knaff wrote, “This is how people look at each other in movies when they’re in love.”
On Nicholas’ profile, he, too, shared endearing snaps of himself and Katie looking happy together. According to Montana court records, Nicholas had filed a marriage license application in 2018 that included his wife’s name.
This tragedy in Montana comes just one day after a similarly devastating, suspected murder-suicide in Nebraska, where four members of a family — parents and their two teenage children — were found dead.
Law enforcement officials in both states are continuing their investigations, trying to piece together the motives behind these unimaginable acts.
At this time, we wish to express our most heartfelt condolences to the extended family of both the Olson-Hartleys and the family in Nebraska.
We also wish to extend our condolences to all their loved ones, friends, and communities as they mourn such significant losses. We hope for their healing amid their time of grief. RIP, dear Olson-Hartleys and the family in Nebraska.
If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), text “help” to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741, or go to suicidepreventionlifeline.org.
