Zachary Eugene Norman, 26, of Three Forks, received a 110-year prison sentence in Gallatin County District Court on Monday for the murder of Chase Estabrook in January 2022, Attorney General Austin Knudsen announced.
Norman was convicted in May of deliberate homicide with a weapons enhancement for fatally shooting Chase Estabrook outside a Three Forks residence. The incident occurred after visits to local bars, followed by a house party where a confrontation ensued after Norman refused to leave. During the altercation, Norman shot and killed both Chase Estabrook and his brother, Brendan Estabrook, who prosecutors say died protecting his sibling.
While found not guilty of deliberate homicide in Brendan Estabrook’s case, Norman was convicted in July 2023 on two counts of tampering with physical evidence related to the incident. The prosecution presented testimony from over 25 witnesses, physical evidence such as Norman’s clothing recovered from a bathtub, and a firearm found at his residence matching the injuries sustained by the victims. Video footage from multiple locations further supported the guilty verdict.
Following the prosecution’s sentencing recommendation, the judge sentenced Norman to serve 110 years in Montana State Prison, with no suspension and eligibility for parole after serving a quarter of his term.
Assistant Attorneys General Jordan P. Salo and Mike J. Gee led the prosecution, with investigative support from the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office, Bozeman Police Department, and Special Response Team.