Family, friends, remember woman killed in Great Falls

Family members and friends of Tasha Roberts, a Havre woman found murdered in Great Falls last month, gathered at the Havre Eagles Club Tuesday afternoon for a benefit to raise money for Roberts' three children.

For $7, people could purchase a taco-in-a-bag meal and soda. Donations were accepted and a silent auction on items donated by area people and businesses was held.

Roberts' half-sister Andrea Stidham said all proceeds will go to Roberts' three sons Jonathan, 10, Jackson, 4, and Kayden, 3.  

Callie Terry, who was friends with Roberts since middle school, said Roberts' death is "an all-around shock."

"It's still kind of surreal," she said.

Roberts was raised by her grandparents in Havre, her stepsister Darcy Stidham said. Stidham said she remembers how as children, she, Roberts and Roberts' grandparents used to get in the car each Sunday and watch animals such as deer en route to the Havre Eagles Club.

She said she and Roberts used to play darts in the club and be "cheerleaders" for Roberts' grandparents while they played pool. They would then go to dinner at PJ's Restaurant and Casino.

But since the death of Roberts' grandparents in 2014, Stidham said, Roberts struggled with an addiction to opioids and eventually methamphetamines.

Roberts' half-sister Brandy Stidham said she remembers how when Roberts used to get off of work at KFC and Taco John's the two used to pick up a coffee at McDonald's, shut off their phones and drive up to the mountains.

Stidham said Roberts was on her way to Butte to stay with her mother when she was killed. She had gotten a job at a motel and wanted to stay off drugs and regain custody of her children, Stidham said.

Roberts, 25, who was not identified in court documents by name but referred to as "Jane Doe" and "T.R.," was found dead in a bathtub in the Airway Motel in Great Falls. The cause of death was a blow to her skull, the documents say.

Court documents say Stanley Isaac Lebeau, 40, has been charged with one count of deliberate homicide in her death. Lebeau told police he had murdered a woman in his motel room when he was placed under arrest on a probation violation, document say. Police later went to the motel room and found her body. Lebeau said he had been partying with her when "things got out of hand" and he ended up assaulting her and then killing her, documents say.

Lebeau told officers he had been hearing voices and using methamphetamine and spice since Monday. He told officers he had planned on going on a killing spree before he was arrested.

Along with the fundraiser at the Eagles Club, Pizza Hut in Havre also held a fundraiser to raise money for Roberts' children. An account has been set up at Bear Paw Credit Union for the fundraisers and a gofundme account has also been set up. People can donate to that account by going to https://www.gofundme.com/3e0wdaw