Anaconda residents return to bar where 4 were killed for memorial

ANACONDA — It could have been a typical fall afternoon with David Gwerder serving drinks, but last Saturday the clinking beers inside the Owl Bar were accompanied by tears and residual anger.

The longtime local watering hole opened again last week, for the first time after four people were shot and killed there in August. Michael Paul Brown, the suspect in the killings, has pleaded not guilty to four counts of deliberate homicide, as well as arson, theft and intentionally evading law enforcement during a weeklong manhunt.

Patrons filled the tiny tavern for a benefit to create a fund to honor victims and their families, including an effort to erect a memorial stone with photos of the Anacondas who were killed: 59-year-old Daniel Edwin Baillie, 64-year-old Nancy Lauretta Kelley, 70-year-old David Allen Leach, and 74-year-old Tony Wayne Palm.

The fundraiser was organized by Bonnie Murphy, Debby Dubois, Meagan Parker and Abby Hintz, and included donated food, a 50/50 raffle, a silent auction, live music, a memorial ceremony and lots of hugging.

In the neighborhood surrounding the bar, which Brown lived next door to, “Anaconda Strong” signs pepper the windows of homes.

“Everybody here is family,” said Stacy Haldane. “Honest to God … if you’re born and raised here, you know everybody or you’re related to everybody.”