UPDATE: 1-8-2026, 5:15 p.m. — "This will be listed as an attempted deliberate homicide," Judge West said during Thursday's court hearing. "There's a minimum of 10 years in the Montana state prison with a max of 100 years to life."
Detective Captain Anthony Hutchings said incidents around the Wheat Drive area are not uncommon.
"We do see a higher crime rate in that area," Hutchings said.
Bozeman Police is working to increase staffing in the area.
"The goal is to have more officers on the street than we have had," Hutchings said. "We do dedicate a lot of officer hours to patrolling that area and are trying to make it as safe as possible."
Godinez received a no-contact order during his Thursday court appearance. Bail was set at $500,000.
"There is a severe concern for not only the safety of the victim in this matter, but also the safety of the public at large," the court stated. "I do have significant concerns he will appear for court if he is given a lower bond."
Godinez's next court appearance is scheduled for January 23.
WATCH: Bozeman Police continue efforts to increase safety in high-crime areas following serious assault incident at local motel
UPDATE: 1-8-2026, 10:45 a.m. — In Gallatin County Justice Court this morning, Miguel Angel Arreygue Godinez's bond was set at $500,000.
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A man was arrested Wednesday night after reportedly stabbing his father at a Bozeman hotel, which resulted in emergency surgery to save the victim's life.
According to court documents, Miguel Angel Arreygue Godinez, 24, transient, is charged with attempted deliberate homicide and is being held at the Gallatin County Detention Center.
Charging documents state that just after 10 p.m. on Jan. 7, 2026, Bozeman Police officers were dispatched to the Quality Inn on Wheat Drive for a reported stabbing. When they arrived, officers found a man with a stab wound to his chest, then located Miguel, who was taken into custody at gunpoint.
The victim, Miguel's father, was taken to Bozeman Deaconess Health for emergency surgery.
Patrol officers were reportedly able to recover a large knife from the hallway that appeared to be used in the crime, noting the knife was approximately 10 inches long when extended.
During an interview, Miguel reportedly told investigators that his father and co-workers had been "picking on him" at work and threatening his family in Mexico, adding that he had problems with his father for years and felt betrayed by him.
Miguel allegedly stated that he decided on Wednesday that he needed to kill his father. He reportedly told officers that he had intended to throw boiling water on his father, intending to cut his father's throat for a "clean death," but his father noticed the water and fought back, so he allegedly stabbed his father in the chest.
Court documents state that the father retreated to the hallway of the hotel, where guests reportedly saw the two men fighting, with Miguel attempting to stab the victim.
Later, at the hospital, an officer was told by hospital staff that had the stab wound been an inch higher or lower, the victim would have died instantly. At the time of filing the affidavit of probable cause, the victim was in the intensive care unit and was intubated.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
