Thursday, March 25, 2010
To catch a murderer (UPDATE)
Posted by Alex Sakariassen on Thu, Mar 25, 2010 at 3:49 PM
UPDATE: Frank Dryman went before an Arizona court this morning to determine whether he'll be extradited to Montana to serve out the remainder of a life sentence. The Montana Department of Corrections reported today that Dryman did not contest his extradition, meaning he'll be transported back to the Montana State Prison sometime in the next two weeks.
After 38 years on the run, the man behind a murder on the Hi-Line 60 years ago has been apprehended. A private investigator tracked Frank Dryman to the Cactus Rose Wedding Chapel in Arizona City, Ariz., which Dryman was operating under the alias Victor Houston. Montana corrections officials are now working to extradite the man.
According to a release from the Montana Department of Corrections, Montana resident Clarence Pellet picked up a 19-year-old hitchhiker by the name of Frank Dryman outside Shelby in April 1951. Dryman shot Pellet to death with a gun he'd purchased on his way from California, stole Pellet's vehicle and drove to Canada, where he was later arrested and transferred into state custody. Dryman served 14 years—1955 to 1969—of a life sentence in the Montana State Prison for Pellet's murder, and was paroled in 1969. But Dryman disappeared in March 1972. He's been listed as an absconder by the state ever since.
In February 2009, Pellet's grandson Clem Pellet, an oral surgeon in Bellevue, Wash., found newspaper clippings about the murder in a box of family possessions. He hired private investigator Patrick Cote to find Dryman. Cote followed leads to Glendale, Ariz., and eventually to the Cactus Rose Wedding Chapel. There he reportedly contacted proprietor Victor Houston, inquiring about one of Dryman's aliases, Frank Valentine. Houston's birthday closely matched Dryman's, and tattoos on his hands resembled those described by law enforcement. Houston later confessed to his real identity after local law enforcement officers made the arrest.
We think this will eventually make one hell of a "Cold Case" episode.
- Frank Dryman in 1955.
- Frank Dryman in 2010.
Comments (6)
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I read the story about this murderer. I don't care how old he is, he still murdered a man in cold blood and deserves to spend the rest of his life in jail! He is guilty and should pay the price for his crimes. Thank goodness Dr. Pellet was able to successfully track down this criminal. It's not right that he should get away with eluding the authorities for all these years. He's where he should be. My sympathies to the Pellet family, pain is pain no matter how long it's felt. May you all begin to heal and move forward together as a family united.
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Honestly I do feel sorry for the family of Dr. Pellet,But lets all remember this man was already out on parole. Will this bring the deceased man back? Can or has Mr.Dryman hurt anyone since then? Has he been a minces to society? Remember this man now has a whole new family and many some good values. I don't and I'm sure anyone else who has posted comments know yourselves. I will pray for both families
you all realize he did spend his time in jail he was released from jail legally he just skipped out on parole and never got in trouble again was a pillar in the community.Can anyone see the irony in this besides me or are we out to re punish the him,the state of montana with the financial burdon of taking care of him,his daughter that did not know anything of his past life.I think you all are nuts who belive this is justice and yes i did know vic aka frank he married me and my wife,my nephew,and one of my friends I feel for the Pellet family but justice was done in 1969 weather they like the verdict or not this is the USA right?Im out
The part that you are missing in this story is that he did not finish his sentence. Parole is a part of his punishment. If he skips on parole then it is like he escapes from jail. Parole is designed, as I understand it, to integrate the prisoner back into society as a law abiding citizen. Frank Dryman did not do that. He broke the law fully knowing that he would go back to jail (if caught). so thank you Dr. Pellett for spending your money to do what our own law enforcement should have done. Further if you read Frank Dryman's article in the newspaper. He blames the 19 year old not himself. Look a little closer and I bet he was not the squeaky clean reformed person you are thinking he became. With his morals, I sure would not want him living close to me and my family.
yes you are right he wasn't squeaky clean he was part of search and rescue saved people so if he was on parole he would have just lived in a life he wasn't happy in with a woman that he would have made miserable.He wouldn't have had his great daughter she would have never existed peoples lives would have been allot worse that he encountered in his new life because he wouldn't have been there people would have possibly died because he wasn't part of the search and rescue team so yes your right he souldnt have left parole right think about that for a while is you wish..
He should have hung but all the do gooders put a stop to that, he killed an innocent person in cold blood and there is no excuse for that. I dont care what he did after he absconded he did what he did and should pay for it. What Clem did was amazing and his family didnt desrve what happend to them and all you do gooders need to remember a family was torn apart by this murderer. Good on yer Clem.
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