John Patrick Hiilani Figueira Araujo, a 53-year-old Hispanic male, passed away on October 19, 2019, in Kalispell, Montana. His death, which occurred in a residence on the southwest side of the city, quickly became the subject of a complex homicide investigation. On the evening of his death, the Kalispell Police Department received a vague request for a welfare check at the home. Shortly thereafter, a man voluntarily arrived at the police station and confessed to having shot and killed another man at that same address.
Upon entering the residence, officers discovered the body of John Araujo. The man who confessed to the shooting was taken into custody for questioning but was later released. As of late October 2019, no charges had been filed in connection with the death.
The Kalispell Police Chief described the investigation as "complex," indicating that authorities were still processing evidence and witness statements.
Adding another layer to the case, just a month prior to his death, Araujo was facing serious federal charges. In September 2019, he, along with two individuals from California, was arrested and charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute. Authorities had seized over 30 pounds of methamphetamine in connection with that case. There has been no public announcement of any arrests or suspects in the homicide of John Araujo since the initial investigation.
