Helena man accused of fatal crash into East Helena home found dead in Nevada

A Helena man accused of crashing his vehicle into an East Helena home while intoxicated, killing a 69-year-old woman inside, was found dead in Reno, Nevada, two days after he failed to show up for court. 

William Bart Stuart, 53, died by suicide Thursday night, according to the Washoe County Regional Medical Examiner's Office. The medical examiner confirmed his identity Monday after local news outlets reported Friday that a Montana homicide suspect had been found dead.

A warrant was issued for Stuart's arrest Wednesday, and the Helena Police Department and Department of Justice sent out a Missing and Endangered Persons Advisory after he failed to show up to his final pre-trial conference in Lewis and Clark County District Court.

He was facing charges including vehicular homicide while under the influence, negligent vehicular assault with serious bodily injury, criminal endangerment, and fleeing from a peace officer while operating a motor vehicle and causing death.

According to a press release from the Reno Police Department, officers located the suspect's vehicle in northwest Reno around 9 p.m. on Thursday and surrounded it. Officers then heard a single gunshot and backed away. Reinforcements were called in, and officers confirmed the person inside the car was dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, the release states.

Stuart posted a $500,000 surety bond on Dec. 3. Under his conditions of release, he was required to wear a 24/7 alcohol monitoring device and was barred from entering bars, driving or leaving Lewis and Clark County, according to court documents.

Lewis and Clark County prosecutor Daniel Baris said in court Wednesday he was "not surprised" Stuart failed to appear, adding that he had received information earlier that day that “indicated to [him] that he would not be coming to court today,” but he declined to elaborate. 

Court documents state that Stuart fled a stop by a Montana Highway Patrol trooper late at night on Nov. 22 last year near Canyon Ferry Road. He allegedly reached speeds of 115 mph in his Audi A7 during the chase and crashed into a home near the intersection of Lake Helena Drive and East Main Street.

A man and a woman were found inside a bathroom connected to the bedroom Stuart allegedly crashed into. The woman, identified as 69-year-old Terry Lamping, was pronounced dead at the scene, while the 76-year-old man, Philip Lamping, was hospitalized with what police described as "extensive injuries."

Authorities believe the two were pushed into the bathroom from the bedroom by the force of the impact.

A witness said they saw the vehicle "fly" into the home at an estimated 50 to 70 mph. According to Stuart's arrest affidavit, a person who had been with him in the vehicle before the chase began told officers they believed Stuart had consumed 14 or 15 drinks at Lakeside before driving.

His jury trial was set to begin in August.

Stuart also faced a civil lawsuit filed in January by Philip Lamping and the estate of his late wife, seeking special, compensatory and punitive damages for the couple's injuries, pain and suffering, and Terry Lamping's death. It states Philip Lamping suffered a brain bleed, fractured vertebra and numerous other injuries in the crash.

A pre-trial conference in the civil case is currently set for April 2027.