In the small city of Havre, Montana, a grim discovery was made on May 7, 2025, that would send ripples of concern through the community. On that day, the body of a 35-year-old White / Caucasian female, Dixie Leigh Schroeder, was found inside a residence on the 300 block of 14th Avenue. A house cleaner made the unsettling discovery and promptly alerted authorities via a 911 call in the mid-afternoon. When officers from the Havre Police Department arrived at the scene, they immediately recognized that the circumstances surrounding the death were suspicious, suggesting that foul play was involved in the young woman's demise.
The initial stages of the investigation were marked by a sense of urgency as law enforcement worked to piece together the events that led to Schroeder's death. The Havre Police Department, recognizing the gravity of the situation, sought the assistance of the Montana Division of Criminal Investigation to bolster their investigative efforts.
As the inquiry progressed, a person of interest emerged: 35-year-old Cody Rencurel. Investigators learned that Rencurel had been living in the basement of Schroeder's townhouse and that the two were in the process of ending their relationship. A crucial piece of evidence came from a neighbor's security footage, which captured Rencurel removing items from Schroeder's home before driving away in her vehicle.
With Rencurel identified as a primary suspect, the investigation took a turn into a multi-state pursuit. Law enforcement officials were able to track his movements through the use of Schroeder's debit card, which he had allegedly used for purchases at a fast-food restaurant and to have a pizza delivered to a hotel. This trail led them to Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, where authorities located Schroeder's vehicle. Armed with an arrest warrant for deliberate homicide issued by the Hill County Attorney's Office, law enforcement agencies in both Montana and Idaho collaborated to apprehend Rencurel. He was taken into custody without incident in Coeur d'Alene on May 9, 2025.
Following the arrest, a search of Rencurel's property and hotel room uncovered evidence that police believe was connected to the murder. Authorities also indicated that the evidence suggested additional violent crimes may have been planned, though further details were not immediately released. Rencurel was subsequently held at the Kootenai County Detention Center on the deliberate homicide charge. In early June 2025, during his initial court appearance before a Hill County District Court Judge, Cody Rencurel pleaded not guilty to the charge of deliberate homicide in connection with the death of Dixie Schroeder. The investigation into the matter is considered ongoing.
