In the quiet community of Poplar, Montana, on the Fort Peck Reservation, the life of 35-year-old Native American woman Winona Longee was tragically cut short in mid-September 2025. Her death was not an isolated incident but part of a grim discovery that shook the small town. Alongside two other individuals, 65-year-old Earlene Jones and 41-year-old Matthew Black Thunder, Winona's body was found inside a residence, the victims of an apparent triple homicide. The cause of their deaths was later determined to be gunshot wounds, seemingly inflicted at close range.
The sequence of events that led to this tragic discovery began to unfold when law enforcement received a startling call. A man had reportedly confessed to killing three people in Poplar. This chilling admission prompted deputies from the Yellowstone County Sheriff's Office to locate and interview the individual.
During this interview, the man allegedly detailed the horrific events, stating that he had been using methamphetamine with the three victims. He claimed to have become paranoid, believing they were conspiring against him, which led him to shoot them with a 9mm pistol. While her obituary states a death date of September 14, 2025, federal prosecutors have asserted that the actual homicides took place on September 11, 2025.
Following the confession, law enforcement officers were dispatched to the residence in Poplar, where they found the bodies of Winona Longee, Earlene Jones, and Matthew Black Thunder, confirming the devastating report. The investigation into the triple homicide became a collaborative effort involving the Fort Peck Tribal Police, the FBI, and the Roosevelt and Yellowstone county sheriff's offices. The investigation swiftly led to the arrest of a suspect, identified by federal authorities as 73-year-old Michael J. Ackerman, who is also known by the name Michael J. Littlebull.
Ackerman was taken into federal custody and faced a criminal complaint charging him with three counts of second-degree murder. As the legal process against the alleged perpetrator began, the community mourned the loss of three of its members. Winona Longee, a mother of four boys, was remembered by her family and friends as they prepared for her services. Her death, part of a violent and senseless act, left a profound void in the lives of those who knew her.
