Man searches for dog after nephew’s death

Matt Julian just wants Montana.

Not the state; the dog.

Julian, who lives in Omaha, hopes to find his 7-year-old dog believed lost not far from Fremont. The dog, a German shepherd-chow mix, was with Julian’s nephew, Jeff, when the 20-year-old Omaha man disappeared in February.

Matt Julian remembers the last time he saw Jeff and Montana. It was Feb. 4. Both Matt and Jeff had taken separate cars to an Omaha concert. Montana had stayed in Matt’s car during the event. When he came out to the car, he saw that the dog was gone.

He wasn’t worried. He went to Jeff’s car and, sure enough, Montana was in that vehicle. Both men drove their vehicles over to Matt’s house. He went inside for a little bit. When he came out, Jeff was trying to get Montana out of his car.

But the dog didn’t want to go.

“She loved him,” Matt said.

So Matt jokingly told Jeff to take Montana with him.

Which he did.

Matt said he then tried to call Jeff on his cell phone to say he was only joking, but couldn’t reach him.

He never saw Jeff or Montana again.

Weeks later, Matt and other family members learned Jeff’s body was found about one mile south of a wooded ravine just off the U.S. Highway 77 and Nebraska Highway 109 intersection. His car had been located there the previous weekend.

Saunders County Sheriff Kevin Stukenholtz said it appeared Jeff Julian had started walking from his car after it crashed into the ravine, apparently showing symptoms of hypothermia. An autopsy later confirmed exposure as the cause of death.

“His clothes were found in a straight line behind his body,” the sheriff said, adding experts said when someone suffers from hypothermia they seem hot and start shedding clothes.

Matt Julian said about 300 people attended Jeff’s funeral on March 20 in Omaha.

“He was a very special kid,” Julian said. “He was a free spirit. He loved music and art and was very talented and friendly and kind to everyone.”

Julian said his nephew was a Millard High School graduate and had taken classes at the University of Nebraska. He also did volunteer work at a homeless shelter.

Montana was about 2 or 3 years old when Matt adopted her from the Nebraska Humane Society in Omaha.

“I’m a dog person and I hadn’t had a dog in a long time. I went and found her, and she was just perfect,” he said.

Julian thinks the frightened dog might have jumped out of the car after the accident and run off.

Montana is an 85-pound, long-haired dog, who is primarily black with some tan fur on her chest. She has a spotted black tongue and a tattoo of G7 on the inside of one of her legs. She also is microchipped.

“She’s very friendly and loves kids and loves to run,” Julian said.

Julian has been searching the area for Montana, leaving fliers at farmhouses. He said he talked to a young girl who claimed she saw the dog in a yard off of County Roads 10 and W about two weeks ago.

He said the dog is important to him and his 11-year-old son, Dakota, and hopes area residents will keep an eye out for the Montana. Julian can be reached at 330-0402 or 686-6773 or billjulian@msn.com.

Julian hopes someone finds Montana and brings her back.

“If we could salvage something out of this tragedy, that would be the best thing that could happen right now,” he said.