In the quiet community of Farwell, Michigan, the life of Patricia A. 'Patti' Boyer, a 61-year-old female, was tragically cut short on October 20, 2021. What began as a response to a shooting at a residence on South Harrison Avenue unfolded into a grim discovery of a multiple-victim homicide that shook the small town.
When Clare County deputies first arrived at the scene, they found two men, later identified as Wade H. Bacon, 39, and Zachary A. Salminen, 36, with gunshot wounds. Salminen was pronounced dead at the scene, while Bacon succumbed to his injuries at a local hospital. The investigation at the home led to a more horrifying revelation: the bodies of two more individuals were found in an outbuilding on the property. These victims were identified as Patricia Boyer and her 85-year-old father, Henry L. Boyer.
The ensuing investigation quickly identified a suspect, Judy Marie Boyer, who was Patricia's sister and Henry's daughter. A search for the armed and dangerous woman was launched, and she was apprehended the following day in neighboring Wexford County. Authorities revealed that Judy Boyer had a 'hit list' and that the four victims were targeted.
In September 2022, Judy Marie Boyer, then 55, pleaded guilty to two counts of first-degree premeditated murder for the deaths of her father, Henry Boyer, and her sister, Patricia Boyer. She also pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree murder for the deaths of Wade Bacon and Zachary Salminen. The first-degree murder charges carry a mandatory sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole. A nephew, Ryan Beatty, was also charged in connection with the case for allegedly aiding Judy Boyer and helping her dispose of the. 22 caliber rifle used in the murders.
