The Saga of Clyde Rector and Mike Ren

When Montana trooper Mike Ren is shot dead, Clyde Rector, a man with schizophrenia, is accused. A town torn by rumors, a hidden past of brutality, and a high-stakes courtroom battle follow. But was this truly murder—or self-defense? The truth is buried in secrets and whispers... waiting to surface.

On April 8, 1978, Montana Highway Patrolman Mike Ren was gunned down in a quiet town, sparking a storm of accusations and dark secrets. Charged with first-degree murder, Clyde Rector—a man with schizophrenia—claimed self-defense, setting off a trial that exposed more than anyone expected. The jury's shocking verdict set Clyde free, but as whispers of brutality, revenge, and fear surfaced, the town was left divided, questioning their heroes and villains. Ren's violent history with Rector, the lawsuit against him for police brutality, and the ensuing investigation into his life revealed even darker mysteries. And just as one chapter closed, others were ripped open—a potential Mafia conspiracy, undercover stings, and one man's descent into the wilderness, searching for peace in a world that wouldn't give it. But was it justice…or a tragic error that came at a deadly cost? The truth waits in the shadows.

Gary Montgomery, a nearly lifelong resident of northwest Montana, has held diverse roles as a logger, ranch manager, teacher, and fire crew member with the U.S. Forest Service. He spent 29 years publishing The Trail, an historical journal capturing Montana's rich past. With a degree in wildlife biology, Gary has authored five books, including a memoir, an historical novel, an action novel and a ghostwritten WWII memoir. His latest work, The Saga of Clyde Rector and Mike Ren, aims to clarify long-misunderstood historical events.