Missoula County Attorney, Law Enforcement Agencies Announce Charges in 1990 Homicides
Posted on June 09, 2026
Missoula County Attorney Matt Jennings announced today that the State of Montana has filed two counts of Deliberate Homicide against Nickie Dean Gardiner, stemming from the 1990 murders of two residents of Riverside Health Care Center (currently known as Missoula Health and Rehabilitation) in Missoula.
The charges follow significant recent developments in the investigation, including advanced DNA analysis that links Gardiner to both homicide victims, Bertha Scott and Nancy Lagerquist.
Background of the Case
Scott and Lagerquist were both elderly women residing at Riverside Health Care Center in 1990. Both lived with dementia and were unable to care for themselves. Both were found deceased under suspicious and violent circumstances in May 1990 and July 1990, respectively. At that time, law enforcement and medical personnel did not have the benefit of modern forensic technology, and a formal suspect was never identified or charged with either homicide.
Subsequent autopsies and the exhumation of one victim allowed investigators to collect biological samples from both victims. Improved forensic DNA methods developed in the decades since the crimes occurred have now enabled investigators to develop usable DNA profiles from the samples collected in 1990.
DNA Evidence Linking Suspect to Both Victims
Over the past year, the Montana State Crime Lab and Bode Technology conducted new DNA testing on the biological evidence preserved from the original investigations. According to laboratory reports, Gardiner’s DNA is strongly associated with samples collected from both victims’ bodies. Statistical analysis places the likelihood of the DNA originating from Gardiner — instead of an unknown, unrelated individual — at levels reaching into the tens of millions for one victim.
Scientists also developed Y chromosome DNA profiles from fingernail clippings collected from the other victim, indicating a likelihood that that victim scratched her assailant. Those test results likewise identified Gardiner as a statistically significant contributor to the DNA found on the fingernail clippings.
Gardiner has no known connection to either victim, and investigators have found no explanation — other than criminal activity — for the presence of his DNA on both victims.
Charges/Arrest Warrant
Given the severity of the offenses, the strength of the DNA evidence, and Gardiner’s criminal history, the state charged two counts of deliberate homicide and requested an arrest warrant in the amount of $5 million. Gardiner is currently being held at the Missoula County Detention facility.
Statement from the Missoula County Attorney’s Office
“These crimes devastated families and shook our community more than three decades ago,” said Chief Criminal Deputy County Attorney Mac Bloom. “Thanks to advances in DNA technology and the perseverance of investigators, we are now able to take meaningful action to seek justice for the victims. Our office is committed to moving this case forward with professionalism and transparency. We sincerely appreciate the hard work of law enforcement and forensic scientists in continuing to investigate this case years after the crimes were committed.”
Statement from the Missoula Police Department
"Since the initial Missoula Police Department response in 1990, this case was re-opened on three occasions for additional investigation. Most recently, the Missoula County Sheriff’s Office Cold Case Unit identified actionable DNA evidence, and the Missoula Police Department re-opened this case to pursue this new investigative lead. Modern technological advances allowed further DNA testing and the results of additional testing supported warrants which ultimately resulted Nickie Gardiner’s arrest. Missoula Police Detective Devin Erickson worked closely with the Missoula County Sheriff's Office Cold Case Unit, the Missoula County Attorney’s Office, Montana State Crime Lab and Bode Technology to advance this investigation. The Missoula Police Department appreciates the efforts and assistance from everyone within those organizations, and we are pleased to bring this case forward and help bring justice to the families of this tragedy."
Statement from the Missoula County Sheriff’s Office
The Missoula County Sheriff’s Office Cold Case Unit, special deputies consisting of retired federal law enforcement officers from the FBI and Homeland Security, was established in 2019. The Cold Case Unit investigates unsolved homicides within the jurisdiction of Missoula County and is also made available, when requested, to neighboring law enforcement agencies. A key task of the Cold Case Unit is to review old evidence using advanced technology. The Cold Case Unit began work on the Scott and Lagerquist case in 2019.
“Through their dedication and perseverance, our Cold Case Unit has been successful in reviewing thousands of pages of dictation and reviewing all evidence collected in this and other cold cases,” Sheriff Jeremiah Petersen said. “Their knowledge of advanced laboratory investigation is second to none. They are an invaluable resource to Missoula County. Our thoughts now turn to the family and those who were impacted by these crimes.”
To date, the Missoula County Sheriff’s Office Cold Case Unit has solved six cold cases in Missoula and surrounding counties.
Next Steps
The defendant will proceed through the standard criminal process, and further information will be released as appropriate. The Missoula County Attorney’s Office expresses appreciation to the Missoula Police Department, the Missoula County Sheriff’s Office, Investigators Norm Wight and Diana Parker, the Montana State Crime Lab, Bode Technology and the Montana Regional Violent Crime Task Force for their extensive work on this case.
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