A Kalispell man accused in the shooting deaths of two Eureka residents, one a Lincoln County Sheriff’s Deputy, is dead.

According to a press release on the Missoula County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page, Missoula County Detention Facility officers responded to Matthew D. Dye’s cell on Wednesday evening after observing he appeared to be experiencing a medical emergency

Detention medical staff responded, assessed Dye and requested he be transported to the hospital by ambulance. During EMS transport, Dye became unresponsive and life-saving measures were initiated. 

Dye was pronounced deceased at St. Patrick's Hospital.

Following standard operating procedures of an in-custody death, county Sheriff Jeremiah Petersen requested the City of Missoula Police Department conduct the investigation into Dye's death.

According to the Sheriff’s Office, all video and documentation have been provided to Missoula police and the Missoula County Sheriff’s Office is cooperating fully with the investigation.  

Lake County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Coroners are conducting coroner duties.  

“The care, safety and well-being of every individual entrusted to our custody is a responsibility we take very seriously, and we remain committed to these high standards,” said Sheriff Jeremiah Petersen.

More information will be released in coordination with Lake County Sheriff’s Office and City of Missoula Police Department as it becomes available.

Dye, 50, was ordered held Monday without bail in the deaths of 28-year-old county deputy Ryan Terpsma and 46-year-old Merrrisa Marie Walker, following a probable cause hearing in Lincoln County Courtroom by Justice of the Peace Jay Sheffield.

Dye was charged with two felony counts of deliberate homicide and one felony count of attempted deliberate homicide.

Dye was facing possible punishments of death, by life imprisonment, or by imprisonment in the state prison for a term of not less than 10 years or more than 100 years.

When Judge Sheffield asked Dye if was able to understand the proceedings, Dye said he was, "struck in the medulla oblongata" during his arrest. Sheffield repeated the question and Dye said he understood.

After Sheffield determined probable cause existed for the case to proceed, a woman was heard saying, "you ruined my family."

Dye, as he was being led from the courtroom, said, "standing tall alive."

The charging documents detailed a scene where the defendant allegedly exchanged gunfire with the father of the deceased woman living on the property, Dye allegedly “hunting” Walker's daughter and a pursuit where he allegedly fired at several law enforcement officers and disabled at least one patrol vehicle. 

According to the affidavit, Walker's father told county detectives that Dye arrived at the property at about 6:15 p.m., on Friday, and that Dye’s juvenile daughter was with him. Dye left, then returned about 15 minutes later.  

Dye told Walker's father to return to his camper, but after he refused Dye allegedly punched the man in the face and struck him with a broom. The man then retrieved a Glock 26 pistol from his car and went inside the camper where he called his daughter and told her Dye had assaulted him. 

Fifteen minutes later, Walker’s father saw a vehicle approach the property. Dye reportedly got up from the front porch and began shooting at the vehicle. Walker's father left the camper and shot at Dye before returning to the camper to get another gun. 

While inside, the man said a vehicle struck the camper and knocked him out. After he woke up, he heard more gun shots with a brief pause in between. 

At about 8:23 p.m., Walker called 911 and both officers responded to the scene. A few minutes later, Steed made two radio calls that reported Terpsma had been shot and that 50 rounds were fired by a man with a semi-automatic gun. 

Lincoln County Sgt. Clint Heintz responded at 8:59 p.m. and found both officers suffering from gunshot wounds, court documents said. They were taken to Logan Health Medical Center in Kalispell where Terpsma died at about 10:39 p.m. Steed was shot twice in the back, but body armor stopped the bullets. 

Heintz also found Walker shot to death in the driver’s seat of a vehicle. 

When Lincoln County Det. Dan Holskey spoke to Walker’s daughter, who was in the vehicle with her mother during the shooting, she said she ran and hid nearby in the woods while Dye “hunted her,” according to the affidavit. She also said Dye called to her, saying he wouldn’t hurt her. While she was hiding behind one of the patrol vehicles, she saw Dye’s feet and heard him shoot at her. She was injured from shrapnel. 

About five minutes later, she said she heard Dye fire two more rounds before starting his vehicle, a 2016 black Nissan Frontier. She said Dye shot at her again and drove in circles around her, but she moved to stay out of his sight. Dye then drove away, court filings said. 

At about 8:55 p.m., Flathead County dispatch was notified, and officers were told the Frontier was driving south on U.S. 93 with Dye behind the wheel and his young daughter in the pickup, documents said. About 30 minutes later, Flathead County Sheriff's Office deputies were in pursuit of the Frontier on Star Meadows Road and Farm to Market Road.

A few minutes later Flathead County deputies and Dye allegedly exchanged gunfire. 

A Flathead County detective said Dye fired an unknown number of bullets at a trio of law enforcement vehicles, striking all three and disabling at least one. It was also reported that Dye slowed down multiple times in an attempt to allow law enforcement vehicles to get closer before firing, court documents alleged. 

Dye hit speeds of 90 mph on the mountainous, rural roads during the pursuit. A rifle may have been thrown out of the suspect’s vehicle, documents note, but it had not been found. 

At 10:06 p.m., Dye was taken into custody and his daughter was found safe. She was later returned to her mother. During a safety check of the truck, several firearms and possible alcohol containers were seen inside, documents said.