On a cold December evening in 1985, Teresa Lynn Schmitt Shook, 32, and her husband Michael were murdered during a violent home invasion in Hamilton, Montana. An intruder identified as Wayne Nance forced his way into the house while the couple’s three young children were present. Nance entered armed and demanded money; Teresa was shot in the leg, Michael was bound and fatally stabbed, and Teresa was later taken to another room, assaulted, and stabbed to death. The children were placed in their rooms and were physically unharmed; neighbors later rescued them after a would-be fire set by the attacker failed to spread.

Investigators linked Nance to the Shook murders when items stolen from the Shook home were found at his residence, and it was noted he had delivered a new couch to the family days before the killings. Nance was regarded as the prime suspect but was never arrested or charged. He was shot and killed in September 1986 during another home invasion attempt; he therefore never faced trial in the Shook case. Anyone with memories of Teresa, Michael, or the events in Hamilton in December 1985 is asked to come forward with information.