Bozeman, Montana Man Arrested In Cold Case Murder From 2021

Bozeman Police have announced a major break in a 2021 homicide case that’s lingered in the community’s memory for years. Austin John Clowes, a 25-year-old Bozeman resident, was arrested Thursday and charged with deliberate homicide in the death of Steven Kilwein, who was found dead in his North 9th Avenue home on June 13, 2021.

According to police, Kilwein, 79, suffered multiple “chop-style” injuries. For years, the case remained unsolved—until now.

BPD says the break came after investigators pulled DNA evidence from a water bottle found in Clowes’ trash. That DNA reportedly matched evidence from the crime scene, according to a private forensics lab working with the Montana State Crime Lab.

Clowes had been a person of interest since day one. His cell phone was discovered in Kilwein’s yard, and phone records allegedly put him near the home around midnight on the night of the murder. Clowes told police he’d been drinking downtown and somehow lost his phone on the way to a friend’s house.

Two friends allegedly told police they were tracking Clowes on Snapchat and said they saw him near the crime scene—but say he ran off after signaling “one second.” They never caught up with him that night, until Clowes made his way back to their house before everyone else. 

At his Friday hearing, Judge Rick West set bail at $1 million.

“As this case has unsettled our community for four years, I urge the court to consider the community risks, Mr. Kilwein’s family wishes, the nature of this violence offense, the age of the elderly victim being killed, use of a weapon in this case to stab an elderly man leading to his death and the flight risk of the defendant,” - County Attorney Audrey Cromwell 

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Clowes remains in custody and has requested a public defender. The case is ongoing, and it will be interesting to see how this one shakes out.