# Patrick Duffy Reflects on Parents' Tragic 1986 Murder in Montana The actor recounts the night his parents were killed and his path to healing. - **Source:** [Page Six](https://pagesix.com) - **Published:** 2026-11-12 - **Topic:** [culture](https://brifing.si/c/culture) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/f217d270-b45c-47b4-b9a2-953b6ebefef5 ## The Tragic Night On November 18, 1986, actor Patrick Duffy’s parents, Terrence and Marie, were murdered at their bar in Boulder, Montana. Two teenagers, Sean Wentz and Kenneth A. Miller, returned to the establishment armed with shotguns after being ejected earlier that evening for disorderly conduct. Both parents were killed during the violent confrontation. ## Discovery of the Crime The bodies were discovered by employees from the nearby Montana Developmental Center who stopped for a drink after their shift. One witness initially mistook Marie for someone who had fainted before realizing the severity of the scene. The perpetrators fled the scene after stealing cash and liquor from the bar's register. ## Apprehension and Sentencing Following the murders, the suspects stole a pickup truck from a local dealership. They eventually visited the girlfriend of Sean Wentz, who contacted the police after the pair admitted to the killings. Both Wentz and Miller were subsequently convicted and sentenced to prison terms of 190 and 180 years, respectively, for their crimes. ## Receiving the News Patrick Duffy learned of the tragedy the following morning through a phone call from his sister, a police lieutenant in Washington state. As news of the incident spread, media crews gathered outside his California home. Producers of the show Dallas quickly arranged a private jet to transport the actor to Montana immediately. ## Informing His Children Before departing for Montana, Duffy had the difficult task of informing his young sons, Padraic and Conor, about their grandparents' deaths. He gathered them before school to share the news. The family utilized their existing morning routine of Buddhist chanting to process the shock and provide a sense of shared emotional support. ## Role of Buddhist Practice Duffy credited his fifteen-year practice of Buddhism as a vital tool for coping with the sudden loss. He explained that chanting helped him navigate the grief and find comfort during the aftermath. While he did not deeply study the philosophy at the time, the practice provided a necessary structure for his healing. ## Understanding the Philosophy The actor noted that Buddhist philosophy views life as a continuous cycle, which helped him make sense of the tragedy. He emphasized that the act of chanting felt inherently right and improved his mental state during a period of immense personal turmoil. This spiritual foundation remained a constant part of his daily life. ## Legacy and Career Despite the profound trauma of losing his parents, Patrick Duffy continued to build a successful career in Hollywood. He became a household name through iconic roles in television series such as Dallas, Step by Step, and The Bold and the Beautiful, maintaining a long-standing presence in the entertainment industry for several decades. ## Sources covering this story - https://pagesix.com/2026/11/12/celebrity-news/dallas-star-patrick-duffy-recalls-night-shotgun-wielding-teens-murdered-his-parents-at-montana-bar/ — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._