GREAT FALLS - Cascade County Sheriff Jesse Slaughter said Wednesday a search is underway for 46-year-old Alicia Wood from Conrad, who was reported missing several days ago.
Slaughter said during a news conference that Wood was reported missing on Nov. 30. The reporting party said she was last seen on Nov. 22.
Wood's car - a 2005 black Cadillac - was found on Nov. 27 between Brady and Conrad and impounded.
Conrad police officers found blood inside the car.
Conrad Police Chief Cory Smith asked the Montana Department of Justice's Division of Criminal Investigation to assist with the investigation.
Slaughter said on Wednesday that a "person of interest" is in custody on an unrelated charge, possibly probation violation, in connection with the woman's disappearance.
The name of the person has not been released.
Slaughter said the investigation has led them to the county landfill near Floweree in Cascade County, operated by Republic Services.
A crime scene has been established in the landfill and excavation efforts will soon be underway.
Agencies that will be participating in the search include the Cascade Sheriff's Office, the Pondera County Sheriff's Office, the Conrad Police Department, Great Falls Police Department, DCI, Cascade County Public Works, Great Falls Fire Rescue, Montana Probation & Parole, and the Salvation Army's "Sally One" mobile canteen to provide food and drink to the personnel involved.
The Cascade County Civil Emergency Response Team has also been activated to assist with the search.
Slaughter said that although investigators have reason to believe Wood is dead, he emphasized that this is still a missing person case.
Anyone with information that may help should call 911 or their nearest law enforcement agency.
