Missoula Shoplifter Caught With Drugs in Her Rectum

Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - On April 12, 2026, Missoula Police Department Officers were dispatched to Winco for a reported shoplifter. Winco Loss Prevention detained an adult female who was uncooperative. The female was identified as 26-year-old Ellen Caye.  

An officer contacted the Loss Prevention Officer who showed him security footage. The surveillance showed Caye taking a pair of sunglasses and walking towards the checkout register. Prior to passing the register, Caye tried putting the sunglasses in her purse, but failed to because her purse’s zipper was closed. Caye then puts the sunglasses in her jacket pocket. Caye passes all points of sale without paying for the sunglasses before she was intercepted by the LPO.  

During questioning, Caye initially provided a false name and said she did so because she was on probation and had been absconding. The officer later determined that Caye had an arrest warrant issued for her in the amount of $25,000 and Caye was arrested.  

Get our free mobile app

Found During Arrest: Drug Paraphernalia Discovered

During a search incident to arrest, Officer Schlenker located drug paraphernalia on Caye’s person, including glass pipes and a tooter straw. Officers also located a syringe, folding knives, brass knuckles, and an unopened container of Naloxone on Caye’s person. An officer escorted Caye to his patrol vehicle. According to court documents, Caye stated something to the effect that there was “fentanyl in my bag too.”  

An officer contacted probation and parole and they requested officers also search Caye’s bag. During the search of the bag, officers located several pocketknives, tooter straws, two small baggies containing what appeared to be methamphetamine, burnt foil, a small scale, a torch, and a blue container containing what was later determined to be two Gabapentin pills.  

Caye was transported to the Missoula County Detention Facility. While at the jail, staff advised Caye had a foreign object located in her rectum. Caye was then transported to St. Patrick’s Hospital. At the hospital, Caye told the doctor the foreign object inside her rectum was a baggie containing methamphetamine. Caye advised the doctor she placed the object in her rectum thirty to forty-five minutes earlier. The baggie inside Caye’s rectum was successfully removed while Caye was at the hospital.  

READ MORE: Missoula News - Crime Reports

The officer reviewed his patrol car camera footage and observed Caye lifting her body up multiple times while attempting to place her hands lower on her belt line during these times. The officer noted that Caye’s movements indicate Caye positioned herself in a matter to, and then actually inserted an object in her rectum. 

Caye is currently being charged with two counts of felony criminal possession of dangerous drugs, felony tampering with or fabricating physical evidence, criminal possession of drug paraphernalia, and theft. Her bond was set at $50,000.  

The information in this article was obtained from sources that are publicly viewable.