JUSTICE FOR VICTOR
Demand maximum sentence for perpetrator WILLIAM robert jAY Howe jr.
Who was victor—
why he matters
Victor was more than the victim of a violent crime, he was the heart and soul of our family. He was a devoted father to two beautiful daughters who adored him, and who still ask questions we can’t bring ourselves to answer. He was a loving son who made our parents proud, a loyal brother who always had our backs, a caring uncle who made the kids laugh, and a friend who showed up without needing to be asked.
Victor had a light about him. He brought joy and warmth into every room with his smile, his laughter, and his big-hearted spirit. He was one of the most generous people we knew,always offering help, even when he had little to give. He was a hard worker in every sense, whether he was out ranching, riding horses, or under the hood of a truck. He was a skilled mechanic, and people trusted him to fix what was broken, not just machines, but moments and moods. He lived with purpose and pride, grounded in his love for his family, his community, and his culture.
He loved being outdoors, working the land, hunting, and teaching his daughters the ways of our people. He honored our traditions and passed them down with patience and care. To know Victor was to feel cared for. His presence made others feel safe, loved, and seen. And now that presence is gone, taken in an act of cruelty we are still trying to understand.
take action!
Raise Your Voice. Stand With the Family of Victor Three Irons.
⚖️ Justice for Victor: Demand the Maximum Sentence for William Robert Jay Howe Jr.
On January 18, 2023, Victor Buell Three Irons was ambushed and shot four times in the back near Crow Agency. He died a short time later at the hospital, leaving behind two young daughters and a devastated family. His murder was deliberate. And yet, no one has been charged with the crime of murder.
Instead, three individuals, including William Robert Jay Howe Jr., have been charged only as accessories, despite video footage showing Howe shoveling, sweeping, and removing evidence at the scene where Victor was shot.
This is not justice. And this sentencing is our opportunity to say so.
-Victor’s killing was not random. It was personal, deliberate, and violent.
-Three suspects have been charged with tampering and accessory roles. No one has been charged with murder.
-William Robert Jay Howe Jr. has pleaded guilty to helping cover up Victor’s death, erasing evidence, and lying to investigators.
-He was on a work-release program for another violent offense at the time, and still chose to help conceal a killing.
-If Howe receives a lenient sentence, it tells our communities that a life can be taken and hidden with little consequence.
-Big Horn County continues to experience a crisis of violence against Native people. This case is not just about one man, it’s about accountability and safety for all of us.
🛑 Why This Sentencing Matters
✍️ How You Can Help
📬 SIGN AND SEND A LETTER
We’re asking everyone who knew Victor, or who believes in justice and public safety, to write to the court demanding the maximum sentence without parole for William Robert Jay Howe Jr.
👉 DOWNLOAD A LETTER TEMPLATE:
Feel free to personalize the template letter, or write your own letter using the key points below.
💬 Key Points to Include in Your
personalized Letter
-Victor Three Irons was a father, a hard worker, and deeply loved by his family and community.
-His killing was deliberate and brutal, yet no one has been charged with murder.
-William Robert Jay Howe Jr. knowingly destroyed evidence and obstructed the investigation, choosing to protect the killer, not the truth.
-Howe had a violent history and was already under state custody when this happened. He was trusted with release, and he violated that trust.
-The Three Irons family is devastated and still waiting for justice. This sentencing may be the only opportunity they have for real accountability.
-A lenient sentence tells the community that aiding a murder carries minimal consequences. That cannot happen here.
-Urge the court to impose the maximum sentence allowed by law, with no parole. We must show that Victor’s life mattered, and that protecting a killer will not go unpunished.
Address Your Letter To:
The Honorable Judge Watters
James F. Battin Federal Courthouse
201 2nd Ave North
Billings, MT 59101
📮 SUBMIT YOUR LETTER
Send Letter To:
📧 EMAIL: Rhonda.busenitz@usdoj.gov
📫 MAIL: United States Attorneys Office
District of Montana-Billings
2601 2nd Ave. North
Box 3200
Billings MT, 59101
Need Help or Have Questions?
📧 EMAIL: Kaylorraine1998@gmail.com
🧡 Stand With Victor’s Family. Demand Accountability. Protect Our Communities.
This is about more than one man, it’s about honoring a life that was stolen, ensuring a killer’s enabler is held accountable, and preventing this from happening to another family.
We will not be silent. We will not back down. And we will not stop demanding justice.
Contact Us
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