Dante charged with murder

BONNERS FERRY — In a place often referred to as “The Friendliest Town in Idaho”, where friends and strangers alike wave at each other as they drive past, homicide comes as quite a shock.

On May 1, at approximately 10:45 a.m. Sheriff’s deputies, with the assistance of the Bonners Ferry Police Department, responded to a 911 call at the Cedar Court Trailer Park off of McCall road.

According to court reports, Boundary County Sheriff’s Deputy Dave Kramer was the first to arrive on scene, finding 36 year old Eric Dante on his knees in the middle of the driveway with his hands behind his back.

Dante allegedly told Kramer there had been a homicide, pointing toward the house at 22 Cedar Court. He then reportedly told Kramer that his fiance, 38 year old Jessika Musson, was dead from a knife wound. Kramer asked him if she was still alive and, according to court reports, Dante replied again that she was dead. Kramer detained Dante and waited for backup to arrive, removing a Buck brand knife sheath from a Dante’s back pocket, according to court reports.

Boundary County Sheriff Officer Detective David McClelland, along with Bonners Ferry Police Officers, arrived on the scene. Upon entering the house they discovered Musson, deceased, leaning over the foot of a bed. Her head and the surrounding bed covers were covered with blood, with a fixed blade knife lying next to her. McClelland was informed that Dante was talkative while handcuffed in the back of a patrol car, according to court reports. McClelland approached him and according to court reports, Dante allegedly told McClelland, without being questioned, that he killed Musson in self defense, claiming that she threatened his family with the Hell’s Angels. There was a pause and during that time, McClelland told Dante that he needed to read him his Miranda Rights. He did and Dante said he would speak to him.

Dante reportedly continued, telling McClelland that his family had been threatened by the Hell’s Angels. He said he and Musson had been drinking and “got crazy”. Then he invoked his rights to an attorney, according to court reports, but continued to speak to McClelland. He told McClelland that, “He would go to prison for his daughter.”

Dante asked McClelland if Musson was dead, and McClelland told him “yes”. Dante responded by saying “okay”, adding, “That’s what happens to liars.”

Dante was arrested and charged with the murder of Jessika Musson. Upon further investigation, the cause of death was found to be a gunshot wound to Musson’s head, according to court reports.

Dante appeared calm in court on May 2, at 1:30 p.m. where he was formally charged with first-degree murder in the shooting death of Musson. His bond has been set at $1 million.