Cold Case Files — "Dead West: Thou Shall Not Kill"

Date: October 28, 2025
Host: Paula Barros
Publisher: A&E / PodcastOne

Episode Overview

This episode recounts the harrowing story of the 2002 murder of Daniel Levine, a hog farm worker in rural Montana. It examines the tireless work of law enforcement and family, the challenges of a case turning cold, and how perseverance, witness testimony, and community support finally brought Daniel's killer to justice many years later.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Crime and Setting

[01:42] Sheriff Cliff Brophy describes the isolation of Stillwater County, Montana—a place where violent crime is rare, but self-reliance is paramount.

• Daniel Levine was found dead on the porch of his farmhouse near the town of Rapelje on May 13, 2002, shot point-blank while apparently reading his Bible and cooking dinner.
• [03:15] Investigator Woody Klonch: “As I got close to him, it was apparent to me that he was dead. There was a large blood trail flowing from his head... There were what appeared to be three spent .38 caliber shell casings.”

2. Victim Background: Daniel Levine

• Daniel grew up in Massachusetts, loved music and the outdoors, and sought a fresh start in Montana with his family.
• Family testifies to his fun-loving, caring nature, battles with addiction, and spiritual rebirth in Montana.
• [05:27] Alice Evangelista (sister): “Daniel loved the outdoors, especially in Montana… It brought him peace and joy.”
• [06:21] Rachel Tooley (niece): “My uncle Dan was a... kick in the pants and just loved family, loved us kids.”

3. Initial Investigation and Suspects

• The primary witnesses were Sherry Westbrook (later Sherry Edwards), the 911 caller, and her boyfriend Richard Edwards, both employees at the hog farm.
• [09:57] Investigator Woody Klonch found both cooperative in early interviews, though suspicious of their sudden departure later.
• An argument with a man named Shawn (a former employee) emerges as a lead, but he's eventually cleared with a verified alibi:
  • [14:06] Sheriff Cliff Brophy: “Sean had threatened Daniel Levine. Obviously, that become very critical.”

4. Challenges and the Case Turns Cold

• With no physical evidence or reliable suspects, and after Sherry and Richard moved out of Montana, the case goes cold.
• Investigators maintain contact with Daniel’s family throughout, offering hope and updates:
  • [26:59] Alice Evangelista: “Those letters meant a lot to me because it showed me that [Woody] never stopped, never gave up.”

5. Tip Breaks Open the Case

• A tip from Ricky Sims, a relative and friend in Missouri, reveals that Richard Edwards allegedly confessed to the murder, and had disposed of the weapon in the hog farm’s manure pit.

  • [22:36] Sheriff Cliff Brophy: “We received information that Sherry’s relative Ricky had heard Richard say that he had killed someone.”

• Despite exhaustive searches—including use of ground-penetrating radar and a dive team—no weapon is found.

6. The Key Witness Comes Forward

• Years later, persistent follow-ups by authorities convince Sherry Edwards to talk.

• In 2009, after nearly seven years, Sherry confesses she was present when Richard shot Daniel, and had been too terrified to come forward sooner:

  • [31:41] Sherry Edwards: “Richard has three personalities... The third one is a psycho. He’s psychotic.”
  • [32:07] Sherry Edwards: “He shot the man. And then he came home and told me what he had done. And then he took me up there, and I seen him lying there. I was scared to death of him.”

• Sherry provides a detailed account:

  • [33:17] Sherry Edwards: “He went to the door. Dan opened the door… and he just... shot him in the head and turned around and walked back to the truck. And there was nothing I could do.”

7. Arrest and Trial

• Richard Edwards is arrested in Texas just days after Sherry’s recorded statement, thanks to a routine traffic stop:

  • [34:47] Investigator Woody Klonch: “He was stopped for speeding in Texas... And his reported comment to the patrolman was, ‘I thought this was over with.’”

• [35:45] Marlo Pronovost (local newspaper editor): “The community was glad and relieved that it was someone from the outside that had been arrested and not one of us, so to speak.”

• At trial, Sherry testifies, overcoming intense fear of retribution:

  • [36:06] Marlo Pronovost: “It was obvious that she was still terrified of this man.”

• Richard Edwards is convicted of deliberate homicide and tampering with evidence; sentenced to 110 years in prison.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• [01:05] Sheriff Cliff Brophy: “We were not gonna let it go.”
• [28:04] Investigator Woody Klonch: “Many people are victimized by their spouses. I thought that Sherry was probably totally intimidated by Richard and had been bullied and browbeaten.”
• [37:05] Investigator Woody Klonch (on lack of motive): “Sherry stated that Richard had told her that he wanted to see what it was like to kill a man. That’s... that’s foreign to me and I don’t understand it.”
• [37:33] Alice Evangelista (facing her brother’s killer): “Forgiving someone doesn’t mean you can’t be angry with them or that you’re going to forget what they did... My forgiving Richard Edwards is also part of what being a Christian is. It’s part of our faith.”
• [37:57] Alice Evangelista: “I totally believe I’m gonna see my brother again someday. I’m pretty sure he’s up there singing songs and he sounds good this time.”

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [01:42] – Rural Montana: Place, culture, and Ravlejay community.
• [03:15] – Crime scene investigation and first physical evidence.
• [06:00] – Daniel Levine’s family on his character and path.
• [09:57] – Early interviews with Sherry and Richard.
• [13:33] – Introduction of “Sean” as an early suspect.
• [16:45] – Detailed focus on Richard and Sherry as persons of interest.
• [20:36]-[21:40] – Case goes cold, family’s reaction, and investigators’ determination.
• [22:36] – Missouri tip and the confession from Ricky Sims.
• [24:06]-[25:36] – Fruitless search for the gun in hog manure pits; procedural details.
• [28:53]-[32:19] – Sherry’s pivotal confession, revealing herself as a terrified eyewitness.
• [34:47] – Arrest of Richard Edwards in Texas.
• [35:45]-[36:42] – The trial, testimony, community response, and conviction.
• [37:33] – Alice Evangelista offers forgiveness at sentencing.

Episode Tone & Approach

• The episode maintains a reverent and somber tone, capturing the grief, perseverance, and dignity of Daniel’s family, and the relentless determination of rural law enforcement.
• Family members’ recollections are heartfelt, sometimes bittersweet, interwoven with a sense of loss and hope for justice.
• Law enforcement voices balance professionalism with emotional investment in seeking closure for the victim and his loved ones.

Conclusion

"Dead West: Thou Shall Not Kill" exemplifies how cold cases can defy the odds of ever being solved, thanks to unrelenting investigators and the courage of those closest to the crime. Through community, faith, and persistence—even in the face of years of silence—justice ultimately prevails for Daniel Levine.