MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Ky. – A man arrested in Kentucky for a large-scale diesel fuel theft operation is also now a suspect in a Washington state murder, according to the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office.
Dariel Nunez Montero, 31, of Louisville, was taken into custody in March, along with two other men, following an investigation that uncovered over $18,000 in stolen diesel fuel. The trio faces charges of engaging in organized crime and theft by unlawful taking of between $10,000 and $1 million.
During the fuel theft investigation, authorities discovered that Montero was also a person of interest in a murder case in Vancouver, Washington. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office coordinated with the Vancouver Police Department, obtaining a search warrant that allowed Washington investigators to recover critical evidence from Kentucky.
The Murder of Courtney Clinton
According to KPTV, the murder occurred in early November 2024. Courtney Clinton, 31, was found dead inside a vehicle in Vancouver, Wash., suffering from cut wounds to the neck. Her 1-year-old son was also in the car but was not harmed, officials said.
The medical examiner ruled Clinton’s death a homicide. After linking Montero to the crime, Vancouver police charged him with murder. He is currently awaiting extradition back to Washington state.
