On a cold winter's night in Helena, Montana, the life of William Andrew Mishler, a 42-year-old Caucasian male, was tragically cut short. On February 20, 2016, a Saturday, Mishler and his younger brother, Robert Alan Mishler, were shot and killed in an apartment building situated just west of the downtown area. The violent encounter unfolded around 9:15 p.m., shattering the evening's quiet.
William, known to his loved ones as "Billy," had a laugh that could fill a room and a heart that was generous and trusting. He was a man who found the positive in life, despite its struggles, and made friends with ease.
The brothers were inseparable, with a bond that remained strong whether they lived near or far from each other. They were each other's best friend, and in a devastating turn of events, they died together. William, a vagabond at heart, was drawn to the mountain states and had made Helena his most recent home. His journey through life included proud service in the Army, following in the footsteps of his father and grandfathers. This experience provided him with skills to work on large machinery. He was a man who appreciated hard work, whether it was as a mechanic, a roofing foreman, or his recent job at a home building supply store.
In the aftermath of the fatal shooting, law enforcement officials located a suspect in the basement of the very same apartment building. Tilmon R. Nungesser IV, a 43-year-old resident of the building, was arrested on suspicion of deliberate homicide. The investigation into the deaths of the Mishler brothers proceeded, with the Lewis and Clark County Coroner's office confirming the identities of the two victims. While the motive for the shooting was not immediately clear, the arrest of a fellow resident brought a swift, though somber, development to the case. William's infectious laughter may have been silenced, but the memory of his laid-back spirit and generous heart lives on with his family and the many friends he made throughout his life.
