In the winter of 2019, the community of Great Falls, Montana, was shaken by the tragic death of Wendy Joanne Carlson, a 60-year-old Caucasian female. On December 17, 2019, Carlson was one of three victims in a horrific triple homicide that unfolded at the Emerald City Casino. The incident cut short the life of a woman remembered for her kind, generous, loving, and caring nature.
Born on September 11, 1959, in Thief River Falls, Minnesota, Wendy was one of six children.
Her family eventually settled in Great Falls, where she would build her life. She attended C.M. Russell High School and later earned an associate degree in accounting. Described as a hardworking woman with a beautiful soul, Wendy found joy in fishing, camping, and cooking. She was also a talented seamstress and baker who cherished spending time with her family and friends. She was a mother to five children and a grandmother to six.
The circumstances of her death were violent and sudden. The individual identified as the suspect in the triple homicide was 41-year-old Ricky Lee Gardipee. Following the killings at the casino, Gardipee was located by U.S. Marshals and was shot and killed during the encounter. While the investigation into the homicides was completed, the families of the victims later filed a lawsuit against the casino, alleging negligence and wrongful death.
