Natasha Lynn Montgomery, a 23-year-old mother of two young children, was a woman remembered by her mother for a "huge bubbly personality" and a smile that could light up a room. Described as a "beautiful person, inside and out," Natasha was originally from Quesnel, British Columbia. Her life, however, took a tragic turn, and she became the third victim of one of Canada's youngest serial killers.
Natasha was last seen in Prince George, BC, around September 1, 2010.
At the time, her family grew deeply concerned as it was uncharacteristic for her to be out of contact with her children. She was reported missing later that month, with police noting she was known to live a "high-risk lifestyle." Her disappearance began a period of agonizing uncertainty for her loved ones, a pain that would be compounded by the horrifying truth of her fate and the absence of a final resting place.
The investigation into Natasha's disappearance eventually connected her to a man named Cody Alan Legebokoff. The link was made following Legebokoff's arrest on November 27, 2010. On that night, a Royal Canadian Mounted Police officer pulled him over for speeding as he exited a remote logging road near Vanderhoof. The officer's suspicions were raised by Legebokoff's appearance and strange behavior, leading to a search that uncovered the body of 15-year-old Loren Donn Leslie. This arrest was the key that unlocked a series of murders.
Although Natasha’s body was never found, the case against Legebokoff for her murder was built on overwhelming forensic evidence. During the investigation into his activities, police searched his Prince George apartment and made a series of grim discoveries. More than 30 swabs of blood found throughout the residence—in the kitchen, living room, hallway, and on a bed sheet—were matched to Natasha's DNA. Crucially, her blood was also found on an axe discovered in a linen closet, identifying it as the murder weapon. This powerful physical evidence allowed prosecutors to charge Legebokoff with her murder, a rare legal step in a case without a body.
In September 2014, a jury found Cody Legebokoff guilty of four counts of first-degree murder for the deaths of Natasha Lynn Montgomery, Jill Stuchenko, Cynthia Maas, and Loren Leslie. He was sentenced to life in prison with no possibility of parole for 25 years. During the trial, it was revealed that Legebokoff, who was just 19 when he began his killing spree, used blunt force trauma and stabbing to murder his victims. He admitted to being present when each victim died but denied his role in their deaths.
The conviction brought a measure of legal justice, but for Natasha’s family, the ordeal is far from over. The fact that Legebokoff has never revealed the location of her remains has left them in a state of perpetual limbo. "The loss of Natasha has had a very devastating impact on our family," her family said in a statement. "It is hard enough to accept the fact she is gone, let alone not having the ability to lay her to rest." Her grandfather, Bob Donovan, made a direct plea in his victim impact statement, saying, "I would like him to give up the body."
Years after the conviction, Natasha's mother, LuAnn Montgomery, and other family members have continued to search for her, holding ceremonies and organizing community efforts to bring her home. In 2012, they held a smudging ceremony at the apartment where police believe she was killed, praying and trying to cleanse the space. The family's public pleas for information continue, a heartbreaking testament to their love for Natasha and their desperate need for the closure that only laying her to rest can provide.
