BONNER COUNTY, Idaho – The Bonner County Sheriff’s Office is still looking for leads in the shooting death of Shirley Ramey, 78, who was found dead in her Hope, Idaho home earlier this year.
Investigators said at the time that Ramey was found by her husband on April 5.
Officials said Monday they are still “keeping it very broad” in their investigation, and following up on investigative leads.
“Things lead to it not being a random [act] but we’re not willing to put any cards on the table,” Ror Lakewold, the BCSO undersheriff said. “We have enough information that if we get a break in the case it’ll hopefully all start to make sense.”
Previously, BCSO investigators said they were conducting polygraph tests with Ramey’s husband. Tuesday, officials did not disclose the results of that testing, but confirmed the husband was not a suspect or a person of interest in the case.
“He’s been very cooperative with all aspects of the investigation,” Lakewold said on Tuesday.
“We’re definitely still very active in the investigation, we’re not letting any grass grow under this,” Lakewold said. “We’re committed to doing everything we can to get a resolve in this case.”
Originally, BCSO named a local transient, Nathan Utt, as a suspect in the case. After interviewing him, however, detectives said they realized he had an alibi that checked out and put him out of the state at the time of the homicide. Utt was cleared of all charges.
Ramey worked for the city of Hope as a clerk for decades and volunteered locally. She also had two grown children. According to her obituary, she was married to her husband for 57 years.
Last week, her husband announced a $5,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person who killed Ramey.