Bo Tanner Update!

[LooksLikeCRicci]

I watched the Bo Tanner segment on UM for the first time a few days ago. Being FROM Montana (duh) and having spent some time in Polebridge, MT... I found it interesting that such an incident could have went down without my hearing about it. (I grew up literally less than an hour from Polebridge.) In any case, after seeing the segment and recognizing the lead detective on the case, I put my Google skills to work and found that he was still working for the Flathead County Sheriff's Department. So, after eluding to possibly contacting him via PM with Crystaldawn, I shot him an e-mail on Friday.

It read, in part:
According to the Unsolved Mysteries segment, Tanner is wanted on a charge
of bigamy. As you were one of the lead detectives on the case, it is my
understanding that you would have information on a possible capture of Mr.
Tanner. Are there any updates to this incredibly old case? We would
appreciate any information you would be willing/able to share with us.


To be honest, I didn't expect to get a response from him. But I got one. VERY quickly, I might add! It read:

Bo Tanner’s real name was Eddie Riddlehoover and he had faked his death in Houston Texas years before his 1990 disappearance from Montana. When the Unsolved Mysteries program aired, I received a call from the Texas wife who thought that he was dead. His car had been found on the Houston Ship Channel Bridge and everyone assumed that he had jumped to avoid an arson investigation. He had also faked his death under another alias in Washington State by leaving a large quantity of blood in his vehicle. Another wife was left behind there. This scam failed when the blood was determined to have come from an animal. After the program, Riddlehoover was found in Wyoming with a new girlfriend but could not be held because the prosecutor in Washington had refused to file a Bigamy charge. Tanner is suspected in the Arson of his church in Flathead County but could not be charged now, because the statute of limitations has expired, even if we could prove the case.

So there ya have it. I'm DYING to hear your thoughts on this....I'll also be adding this to the Updates thread so we're current. I just wanted to open this one up for discussion...

[HyeTev]

My thoughts are this dude needs some serious psychological assistance. He is absolutely pathetic.

[mozartpc27]

My thoughts: I'm surprised at the exact extent of his criminal history prior to turning up in Montana, and more convinced than ever that a padded cell will be his future home.

[mozartpc27]

Oh, and great work LooksLikeCRicci!

[crystaldawn]

Originally Posted by LooksLikeCRicci

I watched the Bo Tanner segment on UM for the first time a few days ago. Being FROM Montana (duh) and having spent some time in Polebridge, MT... I found it interesting that such an incident could have went down without my hearing about it. (I grew up literally less than an hour from Polebridge.) In any case, after seeing the segment and recognizing the lead detective on the case, I put my Google skills to work and found that he was still working for the Flathead County Sheriff's Department. So, after eluding to possibly contacting him via PM with Crystaldawn, I shot him an e-mail on Friday.

It read, in part:
According to the Unsolved Mysteries segment, Tanner is wanted on a charge
of bigamy. As you were one of the lead detectives on the case, it is my
understanding that you would have information on a possible capture of Mr.
Tanner. Are there any updates to this incredibly old case? We would
appreciate any information you would be willing/able to share with us.


To be honest, I didn't expect to get a response from him. But I got one. VERY quickly, I might add! It read:

Bo Tanner’s real name was Eddie Riddlehoover and he had faked his death in Houston Texas years before his 1990 disappearance from Montana. When the Unsolved Mysteries program aired, I received a call from the Texas wife who thought that he was dead. His car had been found on the Houston Ship Channel Bridge and everyone assumed that he had jumped to avoid an arson investigation. He had also faked his death under another alias in Washington State by leaving a large quantity of blood in his vehicle. Another wife was left behind there. This scam failed when the blood was determined to have come from an animal. After the program, Riddlehoover was found in Wyoming with a new girlfriend but could not be held because the prosecutor in Washington had refused to file a Bigamy charge. Tanner is suspected in the Arson of his church in Flathead County but could not be charged now, because the statute of limitations has expired, even if we could prove the case.

So there ya have it. I'm DYING to hear your thoughts on this....I'll also be adding this to the Updates thread so we're current. I just wanted to open this one up for discussion...

Nice work, Detective Cricci! What I don't understand is why he wasn't charged with anything in Montana if he was captured soon after the UM broadcast. Didn't they say his wife there had reluctantly filed bigamy charges against him? Any idea why he wasn't charged with that?

Of course not a ton of people probably saw that UM segment since it wasn't one that was aired on Lifetime so it makes me wonder how many more wives he has accumulated to this day, them not knowing of his history. Maybe him and Jack Lutter are hanging out together...

[kadrmas15]

Good detective work CRicci, well I disagree with some posters here, I do not think this guy is insane at all. I think he is actually very smart and very cunning to pull all this stuff off.

[kamy]

I have no idea what case you're talking about but I'll second that; Good work CRICCI!

[phillipscurve]

Yes, good work LLCR. It is amazing the number of UM cases (some of the most bizarre by the way) that took place in your state.

[DarkDante]

^ Hey I'm still banned from several motels in Missoula since 1996 (whoops too much information...) - Interesting find Ricci...

[wiseguy182]

Yes, great work there CRicci.

It's depressing that with all of the crimes Bo Tanner has commited, that he's not being charged with anything. Jeez, bygamy, arson, theft, and probable animal cruelty, but not a single charge.

[justins5256]

Good research. It looks like he got off pretty easy considering all the crimes that he was accused of.

[LooksLikeCRicci]

No kidding! I'm with Crystaldawn... I couldn't figure out WHY they couldn't prosecute him for the bigamy charge in Montana if they found in him Wyoming. My best guess is that they didn't find him IMMEDIATELY after the segment aired. I'm assuming it was later, after the statute of limitations had run on the bigamy charge. It's SUCH a bummer.

Banned since 1996, huh, DarkDante? Hmm.... you wouldn't by chance be a Hell's Angel, would you?

[idol]

Bo has no problem in the dating scene.

[Corky Kneivel]

Originally Posted by idol

Bo has no problem in the dating scene.

Bo knows bigamy

[Wamisto]

Originally Posted by kadrmas15

I disagree with some posters here, I do not think this guy is insane at all. I think he is actually very smart and very cunning to pull all this stuff off.

I agree. This guy is amazing: he has been able to dupe the pants off many women and drain their bank accounts as well. Not to mention leading them to believe he really did die when in fact he just staged his death. Genius!