Introduction
It was a cold winter morning in the quiet town of Belgrade, Montana, on January 7, 2018. The snow-covered streets carried a haunting stillness, broken only by the discovery that would soon send shockwaves through the small, close-knit community. In a modest home on the outskirts of town, the tragic events of the night before were about to come to light.
Lauren DeWise, a 35-year-old banking manager and beloved mother, had been trying to rebuild her life after a turbulent separation from her husband, Joseph DeWise. What began as an attempt to escape the shadows of an abusive relationship would end in a devastating act of violence. That fateful morning, one of her roommates, Audria Butler, arrived home to find the back door of the house kicked in, and as she ventured further inside, she made a horrifying discovery.
Lauren was found lying on her bed, lifeless, the victim of a brutal shooting. In a nearby room, her other roommate, Ashley Van Hemert, lay critically injured, barely clinging to life. The snow outside the house told a chilling tale: a trail of footprints leading to the broken door hinted at the terror that had unfolded within the walls of what was supposed to be a safe refuge for Lauren and her friends.
The tragedy that would forever change the lives of those who knew Lauren was now the center of a police investigation, one that would soon reveal a dark and twisted story of betrayal, obsession, and violence.
Lauren’s Background and Relationship with Joseph
Lauren DeWise was known to her friends and colleagues as a warm, hardworking woman who poured her energy into both her career and her role as a mother. At the time of her death, she was managing a local bank and striving to provide a stable life for her young daughter. However, behind the scenes, Lauren had been enduring an increasingly abusive relationship with her husband, Joseph DeWise, which would ultimately lead to the tragic events of January 7, 2018.
Lauren and Joseph’s marriage had once appeared stable, but over time, the relationship began to unravel. Friends noticed bruises on Lauren, and she confided in them about Joseph’s violent temper. The separation between Lauren and Joseph marked a turning point in their marriage. In late 2017, Lauren decided to move out, taking refuge with friends and planning to finalize a divorce. She had expressed to those close to her that there was no hope of reconciliation with Joseph. She was determined to move on and create a better future for herself and her daughter.
However, Joseph could not accept this. As the divorce proceedings advanced, Joseph’s behavior grew more erratic and threatening. He had made it clear that if he could not have Lauren, no one else could. Audio recordings later found on his phone revealed chilling threats, where he promised to kill her. Despite Lauren’s efforts to escape and rebuild, Joseph’s possessive rage would not allow her to live in peace.
Lauren’s decision to leave her abusive marriage was courageous, but as many domestic violence survivors know, the period after leaving an abuser can be the most dangerous. For Lauren, this would tragically prove to be the case.
The Day of the Incident
The morning of January 7, 2018, began like any other cold Montana day. Audria Butler, one of Lauren’s roommates, returned to the house after spending the night away with friends. As she approached the back of the house, she immediately noticed something strange—footprints in the snow leading toward the back door, which had been kicked in.
Alarmed, Audria cautiously entered the house, her heart pounding as she moved through the familiar space. The sight inside would haunt her forever. In Lauren’s bedroom, she found her dear friend, lifeless, lying on her bed, her body riddled with bullet wounds. The stillness of the room told of a violent event that had already passed, but the nightmare wasn’t over.
From another room, Audria heard faint cries for help. Rushing to the source, she found Ashley Van Hemert, another roommate, gravely injured and barely clinging to life. Ashley had been shot multiple times, including a bullet to the back of her head, yet she was still conscious, whispering in shock and begging for assistance.
The scene was chaotic and heartbreaking. Audria immediately called the police, who arrived to find the grim evidence of what had transpired. Their investigation began with the harrowing discovery of Lauren’s body and Ashley’s critical condition, signaling that this was no ordinary home invasion—it was a targeted act of violence that left one dead and another fighting for her life.
The house was soon cordoned off as a crime scene. Police quickly determined that the footprints in the snow and shell casings from a small-caliber pistol would be key clues in unraveling the mystery. Forensic evidence and interviews with survivors and witnesses would slowly reveal the dark truth behind this seemingly random, brutal attack. This would lead investigators to suspect that the violence was far from random—it was the culmination of a toxic relationship that had reached its fatal end.
The Investigation
When law enforcement arrived at the scene, they were greeted by a devastated Audria Butler, who had made the grisly discovery. Inside, they quickly secured the area, noting signs of forced entry through the back door and footprints in the snow leading to the house. As they moved deeper into the crime scene, the tragic reality became clear—Lauren DeWise had been shot multiple times while lying on her bed, and Ashley Van Hemert, critically injured but still alive, was found on the floor of her bedroom, struggling to stay conscious.
The police immediately focused on gathering evidence. They found several shell casings from a small-caliber pistol, and shoe impressions from the footprints provided crucial clues. Although Ashley was in critical condition, she survived long enough to be rushed to the hospital, where doctors fought to stabilize her. Ashley’s condition was precarious, but once she regained consciousness, she was able to recount her final memories from that fateful night. She told the police that she had been out with her boyfriend the evening before and remembered coming home and saying goodnight—but everything else was a blur.
At first, the police were uncertain whether Lauren or Ashley had been the primary target of the attack. However, after interviewing Lauren’s close friends and colleagues, they began to focus on her estranged husband, Joseph DeWise. Reports from Lauren’s friends painted a picture of a controlling and abusive man who had been unable to accept the end of their marriage. Just days before the murder, Lauren and Joseph were supposed to sign divorce papers, and Lauren had made it clear to everyone that reconciliation was impossible.
As the investigation deepened, forensic evidence began pointing in Joseph’s direction. His son, Joe Jr., a teenager at the time, became a key witness. In a dramatic twist, Joe Jr. would reveal chilling details about the events of that night, leading police to uncover the terrifying truth about the murder plot orchestrated by Joseph. The evidence began to pile up, and Joseph’s erratic behavior, threatening recordings, and incriminating messages all pointed to him as the mastermind behind the attack that took Lauren’s life and left Ashley fighting for hers.
Joe Jr.’s Testimony
As the investigation progressed, authorities turned to a key figure in the case: Joseph DeWise’s teenage son, Joe Jr. At just 15 years old, Joe was unwillingly thrust into the heart of the tragic events that unfolded on the night of January 7, 2018. His testimony would not only provide crucial details about the murder but also reveal the sinister manipulation he suffered at the hands of his father.
Initially, when questioned by the police, Joe Jr. echoed his father’s alibi. He claimed that on the night of the murder, he and his father had done little more than purchase beer before going to bed. However, investigators soon discovered two sets of footprints in the snow—one smaller than the other—leading them to suspect that Joe Jr. had been directly involved in the crime. Under further questioning, the teenager began to break down, and what he revealed was shocking.
With his mother present, Joe Jr. confessed that his father had forced him to accompany him to Lauren’s home that night. Joseph had made him wear gloves and a mask to conceal his identity, and together, they had broken into the house. While Joe Jr. stayed in the living room, he heard the gunshots coming from Lauren’s bedroom. In a chilling moment, he recalled confronting his father, asking, “What the hell did you do?”
Terrified of his father’s wrath and the danger he posed to him and his sisters, Joe Jr. had complied with Joseph’s demands. After the murder, his father ordered him to help dispose of the gun and clean themselves up. Joe’s testimony painted a horrifying picture of how Joseph used his own son in his violent plot, leveraging fear and control to ensure his cooperation.
Joe Jr.’s confession became the cornerstone of the case against Joseph DeWise. It not only provided the timeline of events but also confirmed Joseph’s premeditated intent to murder Lauren and harm Ashley. This revelation, combined with audio recordings of Joseph threatening Lauren and blaming her for the breakup, solidified the prosecution’s case, leading to his eventual conviction for murder and attempted murder.
The Trial
The trial of Joseph DeWise began with high public interest, as the details of Lauren’s murder and Joseph’s involvement unfolded in the courtroom. The prosecution presented a powerful case, relying heavily on the testimony of Joe Jr., forensic evidence from the crime scene, and damning recordings that revealed Joseph’s threats against Lauren in the days leading up to her death.
Joe Jr.’s testimony was the most emotionally charged part of the trial. He recounted, in painful detail, how his father had coerced him into participating in the crime. The courtroom listened in stunned silence as Joe Jr. described the events of that night, how he had been forced to watch his father kill Lauren and shoot Ashley. The boy’s courage in standing against his father became a defining moment in the case, giving weight to the prosecution’s argument that Joseph had planned the murder to prevent Lauren from leaving him for good.
Forensic evidence also played a critical role. Investigators found that the footprints in the snow outside the house matched both Joseph and Joe Jr.’s shoes. Ballistics reports confirmed that the shell casings recovered at the scene matched the gun Joseph had disposed of after the murder. Additionally, the police discovered audio recordings on Joseph’s phone in which he explicitly threatened to kill Lauren if she left him.
Joseph’s defense attempted to cast doubt on Joe Jr.’s testimony, suggesting that the teenager had been manipulated by police into blaming his father. They also argued that Joseph acted out of a moment of passion, rather than premeditation. However, the prosecution’s evidence—particularly the audio recordings and the calculated nature of the attack—made it clear that Joseph had planned the murder long before that tragic night.
After weeks of testimony and deliberation, the jury returned with a guilty verdict. Joseph DeWise was convicted of deliberate homicide for the murder of Lauren and attempted homicide for the near-fatal shooting of Ashley Van Hemert. The judge sentenced him to 220 years in prison, with no possibility of parole, ensuring that he would never be free to harm anyone again. The trial brought some closure to Lauren’s family and the community, though the pain of her loss would never truly fade.
Joseph’s Sentencing
The sentencing of Joseph DeWise marked the final chapter in a heartbreaking case that left the town of Belgrade, Montana, shaken. After being found guilty of first-degree murder for the brutal killing of Lauren DeWise and the attempted murder of Ashley Van Hemert, Joseph faced a lengthy prison term.
The courtroom was packed with emotional testimonies during the sentencing hearing. Lauren’s family and friends expressed their grief and the lasting impact of her loss. They described Lauren as a loving mother, friend, and colleague whose life had been tragically cut short by an act of senseless violence. Ashley Van Hemert, who had survived the horrific attack but was left with lifelong injuries, also submitted a statement, sharing the trauma she endured and the permanent scars left by that night.
The judge, recognizing the premeditated and heinous nature of the crime, sentenced Joseph DeWise to 220 years in prison without the possibility of parole. In his sentencing remarks, the judge emphasized Joseph’s complete disregard for the lives of others, particularly his own son, Joe Jr., whom he had manipulated into assisting with the crime. The judge underscored that Joseph’s calculated plan to murder Lauren was not a crime of passion but a deliberate act driven by his inability to accept her leaving him.
The sentencing brought a sense of justice to Lauren’s loved ones and the community, though the scars of the tragedy would linger long after. For Lauren’s family, the sentencing offered a measure of closure, knowing that Joseph would spend the rest of his life behind bars and would never have the chance to hurt anyone else again.
Aftermath and Impact on the Community
The murder of Lauren DeWise sent ripples of grief and shock throughout the tight-knit community of Gallatin Valley. For many residents, her tragic death was a reminder of the growing issue of domestic violence in Montana. Lauren’s murder marked the fourth domestic violence-related homicide in the region over a span of just two years, raising awareness of the dangers many individuals, especially women, face when trying to leave abusive relationships.
In the aftermath of the crime, local organizations and advocacy groups rallied around the cause of preventing domestic violence. Vigils were held in Lauren’s memory, where her family and friends gathered to honor her life and speak out against the horrors of domestic abuse. Several organizations, including Montana Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence, used Lauren’s story as a rallying point to push for better resources for victims, including emergency shelters, legal assistance, and counseling services.
Lauren’s death highlighted the critical need for community education and awareness about the warning signs of domestic violence, particularly the heightened risk that victims face when trying to leave an abusive partner. Her story spurred increased efforts to support domestic violence survivors in Gallatin Valley, emphasizing that no one should have to face such horrors alone.
The DeWise case also led to discussions among local lawmakers about revisiting domestic violence policies and offering greater protection to those in abusive relationships. For Lauren’s family and friends, though, the impact was personal and profound. They turned their grief into advocacy, ensuring that her memory lived on as a symbol of strength and resilience for all survivors of domestic violence.
Remembering Lauren
As the dust settled from the legal proceedings and the sentencing of Joseph DeWise, the community’s focus turned to remembering the life of Lauren DeWise. Beyond the tragedy, Lauren was remembered as a vibrant, loving mother who touched the lives of those around her. Her dedication to her daughter, her work, and her friends painted a picture of a woman who gave so much of herself, even as she quietly battled the private struggles of an abusive relationship.
In the months following her death, family and friends gathered to celebrate her life in memorials and events. They shared stories of Lauren’s kindness, her devotion to her child, and her resilience in the face of adversity. These gatherings became not just a way to mourn the loss of a beloved woman, but also to honor her strength and courage.
Lauren’s legacy has since become intertwined with the fight against domestic violence. Her story serves as a poignant reminder of the dangers many face when trying to leave abusive relationships, and her death galvanized efforts to support and protect those at risk. Her family, in particular, became advocates, working with local organizations to raise awareness about domestic abuse and offering support to other survivors.
While the memory of her life is forever marked by the tragedy of her death, Lauren DeWise’s story continues to inspire change. Her name lives on as a symbol of hope and resilience, ensuring that her death was not in vain but instead serves as a reminder of the urgent need to stand up against domestic violence and protect those most vulnerable.
