A pair of women are speaking out after one of the women’s ex-husband allegedly tried to hire his cellmate in the Flathead County Detention Center to murder both of them.

Matthew Heuer, 38, is charged with felony solicitation of deliberate homicide for allegedly asking the man to kill his ex-wife, Tarsha, as well as her crime victim advocate, Janiece Hamilton, in exchange for a pickup truck and cash.

When Heuer pleaded not guilty during his March 27 arraignment, seeming comfortable and at times smirking, both Tarsha and Hamilton were there. 

The women were joined by nearly 20 women including other crime victim advocates and representatives from the Abbie Shelter, all of them wearing large purple buttons that read “Proud to be a victim advocate — We won’t stop until the violence stops.”

Later that day, a tearful Tarsha expressed how much the support meant to her. She claimed that Heuer had abused her for years — even before the alleged murder-for-hire scheme and the argument between Heuer and his neighbor that led to his recent criminal endangerment conviction.

“For 13 years, I never heard any support, then the whole courtroom filled up, and to get a phone call from the sheriff to say he’s sorry. It was heart-wrenching but I’m thankful. I mean, to get an apology while I’m still alive. It’s a big thing,” she said, holding back tears.

“And to see everyone there to support us after all this time is beyond words, I can’t explain it. Because I tried for the longest time to just get someone to stand beside me. I don’t need anyone to stand behind me, I just need someone there.”

Hamilton said in her opinion Heuer is a classic example of a domestic violence perpetrator. She said he is so good at it that no one recognizes it.

“He’s very good in his presentation, physically speaking, and in how he presents himself,” she said. “He’s kind of a good old boy who knows more about most things than most people, and he’s going to listen to you, lend you an ear and be the nice guy, but behind the scenes is doing other stuff.”

Hamilton has been working with Tarsha ever since she came in needing help getting an order of protection against someone else. She initially came in with Heuer, but later returned by herself to discuss her own safety concerns about her husband.

“It’s been a trial going through court and trying to get heard on that level,” Hamilton said. “Sometimes just the court procedure by itself is intimidating and not easily understood for any of us, including myself, but especially for Tarsha because it’s like, ‘I’m telling the truth, why can’t somebody hear this?’”

Due to several issues, she said, Tarsha never was able to get a permanent order of protection against Heuer. She also said it took several attempts before Tarsha was able to divorce him.

Tarsha said there was a very specific reason, alleging that Heuer used force as a way to intimidate her:

“Every time I went to leave, he would not only hurt me but he would hurt my animals and he would hurt everyone around me until I came back, because then it would be easier to go back than to see me and all of the things that I love get hurt,” she said.

Another problem Tarsha says she has faced is how Heuer has used the system to keep her from being able to obtain legal representation. 

Abbie Shelter Executive Director Hilary Shaw — familiar with Tarsha and her case — explained further.

“He has gone systematically to almost every attorney in the valley, so by the time she approaches them, they have already done consultations with him and can’t help her,” Shaw said.

“Matthew Heuer has successfully manipulated so many people onto his side. There are so many people in the community that think he’s such a nice guy. Word is finally out that he’s not a good guy like he presents himself.”

Heuer’s attorney, Sean Hinchey, gave basic denials to the allegations from Tarsha.

“Any allegations of past activity would be hotly contested, as are the allegations in the new case,” Hinchey said, declining to comment further.

Heuer was awaiting transfer after being sentenced to five years with the Montana Department of Corrections on the criminal endangerment conviction when he allegedly solicited his cellmate to murder the women.

A court document states the cellmate alerted detention staffers before wearing a recording and transmitting device and again discussing the proposal with Heuer, who allegedly went into detail about how the women should be killed.

If convicted, Heuer now faces between 10 years and 100 years or a life sentence in the Montana State Prison.

Flathead County Sheriff Chuck Curry said it is likely that Heuer will continue to be held in the county jail, where his bond is set at $100,000, until the new case concludes.

Heuer’s next hearing is set for May 7.

Reporter Jesse Davis may be reached at 758-4441 or by email at jdavis@dailyinterlake.com.