The nephew of Montana Senator Jon Tester was brutally murdered in his home early Tuesday morning in a rural area near Spangle, Washington, located in Spokane County.

KHQ Television reporter Hayley Gunther  said court documents indicate that the slain man’s eight year-old daughter told the Spokane County Sheriff’s Department that a man came into their home and awakened them. The assailant was armed with a sword and a knife. Deputies reportedly found Tester’s body in a pool of blood with an ax nearby. Deputies said there was blood on the walls and floors throughout the home.

The child's grandmother, the victim's mother, responded to a call from the child, entered the home and discovered the grisly crime scene.

“The homicide scene truly was horrific,” Gunther said. “The victim, 35 year-old Bob Tester’s eight year-old daughter was home at the time of this brutal homicide. The killer approached her and told her to stay in bed because he told her ‘he was going to kill her dad.’

Gunther said even though the child spoke to the assailant, she was not able to provide a description.

“My guess is no, because there is no suspect description that has been released,” she continued. “Normally when this sort of thing happens, detectives will say ‘be on the lookout for such-and-such person with a physical description', and there has been none of that.”

Tester reportedly grew marijuana for nearby dispensaries, and bags of the drug were found near the body.

The investigation into Tester’s death continues as a case of first degree murder.

Senator Tester’s office said the family desires privacy at this time.

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