Home in Trout Creek riddled with bullets
<p>Sanders County resident Jerry Messing points to one of the 25 bullet holes that pierced through his residence in Trout Creek while his wife Shirley observes the damage.</p>
TROUT CREEK – Tales of peaceful scenery and wildlife were shattered when Jerry and Shirley Messing’s part-time home in Trout Creek was shot up, with close to 25 shots ringing through the empty house.
The Messings have owned the house for over 25 years, moving to Trout Creek between 1985 and 1987.
After moving to Thompson Falls, the residence remains empty for most of the winter but Jerry stays in the house frequently during hunting season.
With no idea who splattered the house with gun holes, most likely from a .22, the Messings have a busy time ahead of them, cleaning and repairing the damage.
“I have no idea who did it,” said Jerry. “Out here nobody talks, they change the subject.”
Three bullet holes came in through the kitchen window, leaving their marks right where Shirley would be standing at the sink doing dishes.
The bullets ricocheted and pierced through walls and doors, spraying the entire lower level of the house with the reminiscences of someone’s bad idea.
The Messings discovered the dozens of bullet holes and shattered glass the Monday after Easter and believe that the culprits may be teenagers who were enjoying their spring break.
“What a way to spend Easter break, a religious holiday,” said Jerry discussing how the break and the holiday fell around the same time. “It’s disconcerting.”
The Messings have dealt with numerous other problems before on their property, stretching from a long list of poaching and one robbery.
A field sits in the front of the house, the long grass creating a perfect meadow for wildlife to graze during the day. Road hunters in the area have shot at the deer in the meadow and have hit the house before.
But nothing sizes up to the damage that was discovered on April 1.
“This was malicious – this was premeditated, this was on purpose,” said Jerry in disbelief.
The shots were fired from close range, just yards away from the front of the house.
“We were just talking about if it wasn’t for this business, a guy could move back here,” said Jerry.
The main window to the house took 10 bullets and with the double strength window, which encompasses 40 square foot of glass on each side, the fix is going to be an expensive one.
The window itself costs $450 not including what it will cost to get it installed. In total, the Messings estimated they have $2,500 worth of damage to their home.
“There’s no respect for property,” said Shirley who moved slowly through the house picking up little pieces of glass off of her carpet.
The Messings filed a police report once they discovered the damage but so far there has been no leads as to who is responsible to the damage of the property.
Jerry is offering a $2,000 reward for information leading to the arrest or the conviction of the culprits. Anyone with information is urged to call him at 827-3112.