The Vault

At first, 25-year-old Isadora Wengel was considered a missing person. Yet days into the 2026 investigation, the Fargo Police Department pivoted and charged her boyfriend, 21-year-old Joshua Hite, for her murder.  Based on evidence collected, investigators believe Isadora Wengel was likely dismembered.  Despite the murder charge, Isadora Wengel's remains have not been located. They are asking people in Ottertail County, Minnesota to keep their eyes out for a 27-gallon tote with a red lid. Specifically, they believe she could be found in Fergus Falls, Battle Lake or Elizabeth. At the time of publication: Hite has not been convicted.  To clarify: Law enforcement has not definitely determined Joshua Hite was driving the Suburu Impreza spotted in Fergus Falls in the early hours of Jan. 7, 2026. If you know anything about the murder of Isadora Wengel, contact the Fargo Police Department at (701) 235-4493 Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61588057779889 Ongoing Fargo Forum Coverage: https://www.inforum.com/people/isadora-wengel The Vault website: https://www.inforum.com/news/the-vault Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheVaultFCC Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thevaultfcc/ The Vault Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/740828833225772?ref=profile_plus_visit_group Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@truecrimevault  

In the third and final part of this series, we explore what happened to the mountain of evidence in the 1984 cold case murder of Kelly Jean Robinson -- and we discuss what could come next in law enforcement's investiation into Kelly's death.  Kelly's body was found floating in a rural Minnesota gravel pit pond, roughly 30 miles from her home in Sioux Falls. Her case remains unsolved.  If anyone has any information on the murder of Kelly Jean Robinson, please contact the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension at 1-877-996-6222.  A special thank you to Jean Monthei for her on-the-ground assistance in this series.  If you're looking for a way to support the work we do at the vault, leave a 5 star rating or review on apple podcasts. Five star ratings increase search visibility, which means more coverage for the cases we cover.  The Vault is written, edited and produced by Forum News Service investigative reporter Trisha Taurinskas.  For more information on the murder case of Kelly Jean Robinson, visit https://www.inforum.com/people/kelly-robinson.     

In part 2 of this series, the team at The Vault tries to track down a man previously considered a potential suspect in the 1984 murder of Kelly Jean Robinson. In the process, they run across a new potential person of interest: a convicted murderer who preyed on South Dakota workers in the 1980s. He was a free man in 1984 -- and he was known to frequent The Frontier Bar, where Kelly Robinson was last seen leaving.  For images from court documents and photos of kelly, visit: https://www.inforum.com/people/kelly-robinson This episode is written and produced by Trisha Taurinskas.  A special thank you to Jean Monthei for her on-the-ground assistance in this series. 

Forty years after a 22-year-old woman was found floating in gravel pit pond in rural Minnesota, a man who was adopted an infant took two at-home DNA tests. The results led him to the discovery that his biological mom was Kelly Jean Robinson, the woman found dead in the pond. She had been murdered, and her case had gone cold.  In coordination with Kelly's family, the team at The Vault obtained the investigative file, which included never-before-released information. New suspects emerged. Details about her autopsy were exposed. And, for the first time, Kelly's family learned a very critical fact in this case: a semen sample, obtained through the autopsy, was taken into evidence. The real question now is, where did it go?  To see images of Kelly, visit: https://www.inforum.com/people/kelly-robinson The Vault is written and hosted by Forum News Service reporter Trisha Taurinskas. 

In this episode, Trisha Taurinskas takes listeners behind the scenes of the investigative process behind the The Vault's most recent web series, "Minnesota Vice," through an interview with the author: Jeremy Fugleberg.  The series focuses on the story of Casey Ramirez, a drug smuggler who tried to hide out while living large in a little Midwest town. It examines how the feds caught up with him, and what happens to a small town's soul when it decides it won't ask too many questions.  To access to the full series, visit https://www.inforum.com/minnesota-vice

The arrest of a well-known Winona resident in the 2011 cold case death of a newborn baby found floating in the Mississippi River stunned the community.    Jennifer Baechle is a pillar in the local arts and music scene. She's a wife and mother of two, who volunteers with nonprofits and cooks for church fundraisers, including one benefiting the Winona Immigration Network. She's an English instructor at Winona State University, her alma mater.    Forensic geneology led investigators to Baechle's door, with concrete DNA evidence indicating Baechle is the mother. Yet the community is still left with one big question: Why did she wrap her baby in a tote bag and send her down the Mississippi River?    In this episode, we speak with John Molseed, a Rochester Post Bulletin reporter who has been covering the story -- and has insight into the small city's reaction to it all.    Press conference audio was provided by the Rochester Post Bulletin, a Forum Commnications newspaper.  If you have any questions or comments, email Trisha Taurinskas at [email protected].  

In the final part of this series, we learn what the Minneapolis Police Department told Joli Truelson's family in a recent meeting -- and we learn the fate of her investigation.    For more information on Joli Truelson, including photos, visit: https://www.inforum.com/people/joli-truelson   For more information on Jon Keith Miller, visit: https://www.inforum.com/topics/true-crime   To contact Trisha Taurinskas, email [email protected]    Want to support The Vault? Leave a review on Apple Podcasts! Positive reviews help generate search visibility, which means more awareness for the cases we cover. 

In part 4 of this series examining the 1972 Minneapolis murder of 16-year-old Joli Truelson, we examine the criminal -- and violent -- history of Jon Keith Miller, a potential suspect who was sentenced in March of 2025 for the 1974 murder of 25-year-old Mary Schlais. Miller picked up Mary Schlais while she was hitchiking in Uptown. Joli Truelson was also picked up while she was hitchhiking in Uptown.  To see our print coverage on Joli Truelson, Mary Schlais and Jon Keith Miller, visit: inforum.com/thevault  This podcast is hosted by Forum News Service reporter Trisha Taurinskas. You can contact Trisha by emailing her at [email protected]

In part 3 of this series, we cover the plea/sentencing hearing of Jon Keith Miller for the 1974 murder of 25-year-old Mary Schlais.  Miller has been questioned in Joli Truelson's 1972 murder.  Both girls hitchiked in Uptown Minneapolis before being killed. Schlais' body was dumped in a Wisconsin snowbank. Joli's body was found in Minneapolis' Minnehaha Creek.  Jon Keith Miller was arrested for Schlais' murder in November 2024 after DNA analysis confirmed at the scene. Before confessing to investigators, he repeatedly denied killing Mary.  To contact Trisha Taurinskas, email [email protected]  

This is part 2 in the series, "Joli Truelson: Connecting the Dots," which examines the devastating impact of a flawed investigation by the Minneapolis Police Department into the 1972 slaying of 16-year-old Joli Truelson – and her family's renewed fight for answers in the wake of a killer's confession.    Joli Truelson was picked up on the evening of July 3, 1972 in Uptown Minneapolis by a man driving a newer model, gold-colored, two-door vehicle. Her body was discovered 15 hours later in Minnehaha Creek, four miles away. She died from blunt force trauma to the back of her head, insinuating that she was running away from her attacker. Critical evidence was thrown away, including the possible murder weapon. Since then, her case has gone cold.    Joli Truelson's brother, though, always thought her death could be linked to a similar crime: the death of 25-year-old Mary Schlais in 1974.    On Nov. 7, 2024, Jon K Miller, 84, confessed to picking up Mary Schlais while she was hitchhiking in Minneapolis. When she refused to have sex with him, he stabbed her 15 times. He drove to Dunn County, Wisconsin – roughly 90 miles away – and dumped her body in a ditch.    An eyewitness saw it all – and called it in to authorities. He described the man as being in his mid-30s with mid-length brown hair. He described the vehicle as a newer model, gold-colored, two-door car. The killer went more than 50 years without being caught, until advancements in DNA led authorities to Jon K Miller's rural Minnesota assisted living facility door. When confronted with evidence, he confessed.     With the help of Joli Truelson's family, this series digs deep into the life and criminal history of Jon K Miller, attempting to answer the question: Did he murder Joli Truelson?    Jon K Miller has been questioned in Joli Truelson's murder investigation, but has not been charged with any crimes related to her death.    The Vault is a Forum Communications podcast.    This episode is hosted by investigative reporter Trisha Taurinksas. To reach Trisha, email her at [email protected]   For more information on this case, visit https://www.inforum.com/people/joli-truelson

This series examines the devastating impact of a flawed investigation by the Minneapolis Police Department into the 1972 slaying of 16-year-old Joli Truelson – and her family's renewed fight for answers in the wake of a killer's confession.    Joli Truelson was picked up on the evening of July 3, 1972 in Uptown Minneapolis by a man driving a newer model, gold-colored, two-door vehicle. Her body was discovered 15 hours later in Minnehaha Creek, four miles away. She died from blunt force trauma to the back of her head, insinuating that she was running away from her attacker. Critical evidence was thrown away, including the possible murder weapon. Since then, her case has gone cold.    Joli Truelson's brother, though, always thought her death could be linked to a similar crime: the death of 25-year-old Mary Schlais in 1974.    On Nov. 7, 2024, Jon K Miller, 84, confessed to picking up Mary Schlais while she was hitchhiking in Minneapolis. When she refused to have sex with him, he stabbed her 15 times. He drove to Dunn County, Wisconsin – roughly 90 miles away – and dumped her body in a ditch.    An eyewitness saw it all – and called it in to authorities. He described the man as being in his mid-30s with mid-length brown hair. He described the vehicle as a newer model, gold-colored, two-door car. The killer went more than 50 years without being caught, until advancements in DNA led authorities to Jon K Miller's rural Minnesota assisted living facility door. When confronted with evidence, he confessed.     With the help of Joli Truelson's family, this series digs deep into the life and criminal history of Jon K Miller, attempting to answer the question: Did he murder Joli Truelson?    Jon K Miller has been questioned in Joli Truelson's murder investigation, but has not been charged with any crimes related to her death.    The Vault is a Forum Communications podcast.    This episode is hosted by investigative reporter Trisha Taurinksas.    For more information on this case, visit https://www.inforum.com/people/joli-truelson  

How a 'cult' took hold in the small town of Neche, North Dakota   In the summer of 2024, reporters C.S. Hagen and Drew Trafton presented a reporting series and two-part documentary highlighting the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church, a Christian sect that began in the U.K. in the 1800s and has since branched out globally. The PBCC also has historic ties to the small town of Neche, North Dakota.   Former members report that the church is responsible for a wide range of misconduct, from money laundering schemes to complicity with sexual assault.    For this first in a three-part audio series, C.S. and Drew sit down with Trisha Taurinskas to discuss their reporting and give listeners a glimpse inside the church, what it believes and the accusations of its former members.

A former 'cult' member describes sexual assault and forced separation from family   According to former members, the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church has operated for years in the small town of Neche, North Dakota, using fear and the separation from family to keep its members in line.   In this episode, the second in a three-part audio series, we hear from a former PBCC member who experienced numerous incidents of sexual assault as a young girl and was shunned from her community and family when she made the choice to leave the church as an adult. Also, reporters Drew Trafton and C.S. Hagen discuss the methods of control the church uses.

A helping hand to former Plymouth Brethren members   In the last of this three-part audio series, host Trisha Taurinskas interviews Carman Drever, a former member of the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church and outspoken critic of the church.   Drever shares her experiences within the church and goes into detail about the PBCC's control over its members, who face separation from their family if they step out of line. Since leaving the PBCC, Drever has devoted her energy to providing information and resources to other former cult members who often have no other place to turn.

This episode provides the full hour-long interview with Timothy Crosby, the main suspect in the disappearance of Belinda Van Lith. The in-person interview is conducted by Forum reporter Trisha Taurinskas at the secure Moose Lake Sex Offender Program facility in January 2024.    Trisha Taurinskas can be reached at [email protected]   Questions related to this interview can be directed to Trisha -- or left as a review in Apple Podcasts.   You can find all of our work on this case at inforum.com/Belinda. There, you'll discover our print stories that accompany every podcast episode. Those stories include images from the casefile, and photos of Belinda, Timothy Crosby and others mentioned in this story. You can also visit our Facebook Group, The Vault: True Crime from the Upper Midwest to discuss the case with others who are listening or reading the series. 

This is part 7, the final episode in the series on the disappearance of Belinda Van Lith, and the investigation that followed.   In this episode, we explore new information brought to light through listener contributions, including potential suspects and insight into the day Belinda went missing.    We also discuss Belinda's troll necklace, which contained a white stone. A white jewelry stone was recovered from Timothy Crosby's home during the 2009 search warrant execution. Is there a connection? Find out in this episode.    Finally, we hear from Belinda's siblings about who Belinda was, and the impact her disappearance had on the entire family.    You can find all of our work on this case at inforum.com/Belinda. There, you'll discover our print stories that accompany every podcast episode. Those stories include images from the casefile, and photos of Belinda, Timothy Crosby and others mentioned in this story. You can also visit our Facebook Group, The Vault: True Crime from the Upper Midwest to discuss the case with others who are listening or reading the series.    If you have any information related to this case, email Trisha Taurinskas at [email protected]   

This is part 6 in an ongoing series on the disappearance of Belinda Van Lith, and the investigation that followed.   In part 6 of this series, reporter and host Trisha Taurinskas sits down to interview the main suspect, Timothy Crosby, at the secure Moose Lake Sex Offender Treatment Program facility, where he is locked up indefinately.    This episode we examine how Belinda's investigation led to Timothy Crosby's involuntarily commitment as a dangerous sexual offender and a danger to society.    To learn more about what was discovered during Belinda's investigation, listen to this episode.    You can find all of our work on this case at inforum.com/Belinda. There, you'll discover our print stories that accompany every podcast episode. Those stories include images from the casefile, and photos of Belinda, Timothy Crosby and others mentioned in this story. You can also visit our Facebook Group, The Vault: True Crime from the Upper Midwest to discuss the case with others who are listening or reading the series.    If you have any information related to this case, email Trisha Taurinskas at [email protected]   

This is part 5 in an ongoing series on the disappearance of Belinda Van Lith, and the investigation that followed.   In this part of the series, we explore the cold case review of Belinda's case, which took place from 2008 to 2014. During that time, investigators with the Wright County Sheriff's Office, the Minnesota BCA and the FBI conducted a number of thorough searches in their effort to find Belinda.    Those searches included the execution of multiple search warrants, the use of cadaver dogs, excavations and more.    To find out what they discovered, listen to this episode.    You can find all of our work on this case at inforum.com/Belinda. There, you'll discover our print stories that accompany every podcast episode. Those stories include images from the casefile, and photos of Belinda, Timothy Crosby and others mentioned in this story. You can also visit our Facebook Group, The Vault: True Crime from the Upper Midwest to discuss the case with others who are listening or reading the series.    If you have any information related to this case, email Trisha Taurinskas at [email protected]   

This is part 4 in an ongoing series on the disappearance of Belinda Van Lith, and the investigation that followed.   In part 4 of this series, we explore an alleged confession related to Belinda's disappearance.    In January 2002, the Wright County Sheriff's Office in Minnesota received a call from a woman who claimed she had information about a confession in Belinda's case.    The woman told investigators her sister was riding in the back of a truck one to two years prior when she heard their aunt say Belinda's distant cousin confessed to the crime at some point between 1987 and 1989 while drunk.   The distant cousin arrived at the aunt's house and allegedly told her that he and a friend forced Belinda into their car while she was walking down the road on a dark and foggy night. Then, he claimed things "got out of hand," according to the case file.   To learn more about what investigators did next, listen to this episode.    You can find all of our work on this case at inforum.com/Belinda. There, you'll discover our print stories that accompany every podcast episode. Those stories include images from the casefile, and photos of Belinda, Timothy Crosby and others mentioned in this story. You can also visit our Facebook Group, The Vault: True Crime from the Upper Midwest to discuss the case with others who are listening or reading the series.    If you have any information related to this case, email Trisha Taurinskas at [email protected]   

This is part 3 in an ongoing series on the disapperance of Belinda Van Lith, and the investigation that followed.   In part 3 of this series, we explore the criminal history of Timothy Crosby, the main suspect in the disappearance of Belinda Van Lith.    After being released from a state insitution for sexually violent individuals for the December 1974 kidnapping and sexual assault of a young woman, two more women escaped from Timothy Crosby.    In 1983, a young woman escaped from his vehicle after being held at knifepoint. In 1987, Timothy Crosby held a young woman captive in his St. Paul apartment for 16 hours. The young woman, who endured hours of violent sexual assault, threw herself out of Timothy Crosby's apartment window. Two men witnessed her escape, and authorities were called in.    For the full details on Timothy Crosby's criminal history, listen to this episode.    You can find all of our work on this case at inforum.com/Belinda. There, you'll discover our print stories that accompany every podcast episode. Those stories include images from the casefile, and photos of Belinda, Timothy Crosby and others mentioned in this story. You can also visit our Facebook Group, The Vault: True Crime from the Upper Midwest to discuss the case with others who are listening or reading the series.  If you have any information related to this case, email Trisha Taurinskas at [email protected]   

We had originally planned to produce four episodes in this series. But, because we continue to uncover and receive new information and insight, we are expanding the series. This episodes includes a preview of what's to come.  We will be picking up this series with a new, extended episode next week. Until then, you can find all of our work on this case at inforum.com/Belinda. There, you'll discover our print stories that accompany every podcast episode. Those stories include images from the casefile, and photos of Belinda, Timothy Crosby and others mentioned in this story. You can also visit our Facebook Group, The Vault: True Crime from the Upper Midwest to discuss the case with others who are listening or reading the series.  If you have any information related to this case, email Trisha Taurinskas at [email protected] 

This is part 2 in an ongoing series on the disappearance of Belinda Van Lith, and the investigation that followed.   Six months after Belinda went missing, Timothy Crosby, the last known person to see her was arrested for abducting a young woman in St. Paul and taking her to his family's cabin on Eagle Lake, where he repeatedly sexually assaulted her.   The victim escaped to tell investigators her story — and provide insight into the mind and capabilities of Timothy Crosby.   What did investigators do when they discovered the last person to see Belinda carried out such a henious attack at the very location where Belinda was last seen? Listen to find out.   This episode is written, narrated and produced by Trisha Taurinskas. To read the full story, with images related to the case file, go here: https://www.inforum.com/news/the-vault/he-was-the-last-to-see-belinda-van-lith-alive-when-he-later-attacked-a-woman-he-finally-became-a-suspect  

Belinda Van Lith (also referred to in various media outlets as Belinda VanLith) was 17 years old when she went missing from a home she was house sitting on Eagle Lake, just outside of Monticello, Minnesota.  Over the past several months, Forum News Service has worked with the Van Lith family, delved into the roughly 1,200-page police file and conducted an exclusive interview with the main suspect in the case. The investigation reveals the details and impact of a thorough yet stalled investigation that spanned decades and included multiple detectives, investigative agencies, search warrants, detailed interviews and land excavations. This series is written, narrated and produced by Trisha Taurinskas.  For the full story, including images related to the case, visit this link: https://www.inforum.com/news/the-vault/belinda-van-lith-vanished-in-1974-her-family-assumed-the-case-was-cold-then-they-got-her-1-200-page-file  

Kevin Mahoney vanished from a known party house in Fargo on Oct. 2, 1993. Some party-goers told investigators that he left on foot for his brother's house in nearby Moorhead. His brother wasn't home that night, and there's no indication he made it to his destination.  Others believe Kevin never left the party house.  Kevin's sisters are dogged advocates for their brother's case. They, along with the Fargo Police Department, believe foul play was involved.  In part 2 of this series, find out what Kevin's sisters believe happened to their brother that night -- and why Fargo investigators dug up the party home's basement in search of Kevin.  Will someone finally come forward with what really happened the night Kevin Mahoney vanished?  Click here for the full story: https://www.inforum.com/news/the-vault/this-missing-mans-sisters-wont-rest-until-someone-speaks-up-what-happened-to-kevin-mahoney This episode is narrated, produced and written by Trisha Taurinskas

This year marks thirty years since Kevin Mahoney went missing from a once-notorious party house in Fargo, North Dakota. His sisters believe that somebody in the Fargo area knows something. They're after one thing: They want the person -- or people -- who know what happened to come forward before their memories are carried to the grave.  This Fargo missing persons case has gone cold, yet the details of the investigation will make you wonder why.    For the full story: https://www.inforum.com/news/the-vault/this-missing-mans-sisters-wont-rest-until-someone-speaks-up-what-happened-to-kevin-mahoney   Written, narrated and produced by Trisha Taurinskas

Donald Blom.  His name creeped into Minnesota households through newscasts when he was arrested and charged for the abduction and murder of 19-year-old Katie Poirer in 1999. Find out why investigators consider him a person of interest in the 1993 stabbing and murder of 19-year-old Holly Spangler -- and how new DNA technology could determine if Donald Blom was, in fact, involved.  Written, narrated and produced by Trisha Taurinskas  You can find the full story here: https://www.inforum.com/news/the-vault/a-minnesota-detectives-final-mission-prove-who-killed-holly-spangler

Holly Spangler's body was discovered in a Minnesota park, with a single stab wound to the chest on July 20, 1993.  After five days of being exposed to the elements, her body was in a state of decomposition. Little evidence was discovered nearby – and, since that day, her case has gone cold.  Now, one detective is hoping she can crack the case, put an end to the mysterious death and deliver a sense of peace to Holly's family. Narrated, writen and produced by Trisha Taurinskas. Full story can be found here: https://www.inforum.com/news/the-vault/a-minnesota-detectives-final-mission-prove-who-killed-holly-spangler  

On June 7 – a little over two months after Madeline "Maddi" Kingsbury went missing – her body was found in a remote area near Mabel, Minnesota — her boyfriend's hometown. Inside a fitted sheet, enclosed with Gorilla tape, investigators discovered Madeline Kingsbury's body, with a knotted towel wrapped around her head and neck, according to court documents. An autopsy report later revealed she died by homicidal violence. It was a devastating end to the search for the loving mother of two young children – and the beginning of an investigation that revealed the true nature of the domestic abuse inflicted on Madeline Kingsbury by Adam Fravel.  Adam Fravel has been arrested and charged on two counts of second-degree homicide. Each charge carries a maximum sentence of 40 years. Adam Fravel is slated to appear in Winona County Court on Sept. 22.  This episode is written, narrated and produced by Trisha Taurinskas The Vault's editor is Jeremy Fugleberg The Vault's audience engagement specialist is Madison Hunter For the full story, visit: https://www.inforum.com/news/the-vault/madeline-kingsbury-case-boyfriend-adam-fravels-troubling-texts-and-fascination-with-gabby-petito

In this episode, Tracy Briggs dives into the story of a man knonwn as the "Dakota Desperado," who left his mark on North Dakota through a life of crime and murder.  Written and narrated by Tracy Briggs Edited by Kris Kerzman Hosted by Trisha Taurinskas

In part two of this two-part series, learn what happens when a Minnesota father and husband is let off the hook for the death of his first wife. Does he remarry in Texas and repeat the pattern? Find out.    Written and produced by Trisha Taurinskas   

Hours before Helen Lundstrom's death, she and her husband sat at the dining room table, preparing Sunday school lessons for the weekend. It was a normal Saturday night — a weekend ritual for the church leaders. Yet what came next was anything but routine. Written, narrated and produced by Trisha Taurinskas  

Kate Richards O'Hare was sentenced to a five-year sentence of hard labor at the Missouri State Penitentiary in Jefferson City. Her crime? Violating the Espionage Act of 1917 for making an anti-war speech in Bowman, North Dakota, just two years earlier. Full story: https://www.inforum.com/news/the-vault/she-delivered-her-anti-war-speech-all-over-the-u-s-but-north-dakota-threw-her-in-prison-for-it  

This episode focuses on the book, "Vanished in Vermillion," written by award-winning journalist Lou Raguse.  "Vanished in Vermillion," peels back the layers of complexity that hide behind headlines. Through years of added research and interviews with those involved, Raguse tells the story in a way that captures the nuances of it all. True crime books often focus on the crime itself and the investigation, or lack thereof, that follows. This story shows what happens when law enforcement makes critical mistakes in the investigation, and how those errors can impact the lives of those caught in the tangled web. In this episode, Trisha Taurinskas shares her thoughts on the book, along with parts of her interview with Lou Raguse.  Full story: https://www.inforum.com/news/the-vault/vanished-in-vermillion-peels-back-layers-of-complexity-in-infamous-south-dakota-cold-case?ajs_aid=da7b69ca-81f8-41d5-90bb-fd7337a4d74e

Court documents newly obtained by Forum News Service show the man who was acquitted in the 1981 brutal murder of his girlfriend, 18-year-old Karla Jo Nieland, at a farm party had first asked a judge to dismiss second-degree murder charges on the grounds that he did not intend to kill her. The newly obtained Minnesota Supreme Court documents relate to appeals the defense team filed prior to the trial of John Keep. They argue damage to Nieland caused by the horsehoe ring Keep wore on his right hand shows Keep made "backhand slaps," not "bludgeoning blows." Keep's legal team also argued he was drunk and not in a state of mind to kill Nieland. In addition to arguments that Keep should not stand trial for second-degree murder, his legal team also appealed to have him tried as a juvenile, based on arguments that he wasn't a threat to the public. Keep was 17 years old at the time of Nieland's death. Full story: https://www.inforum.com/news/the-vault/karla-jo-nieland-was-murdered-at-a-1981-minnesota-farm-party-now-new-documents-reveal-complexities-in-case Written and narrated by Trisha Taurinskas 

In less than a week, 18 pipe bombs packed with lead shot and nails were either found or detonated in Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, Colorado and Texas. At least six people were injured in Iowa, four of whom were mail carriers . With a country still reeling from the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, the FBI got involved and began the task of putting the pieces together. This time, the war on terror would lead investigators not to foreign lands but to Minnesota and neighboring Wisconsin. Full story: https://www.inforum.com/news/the-vault/21-years-ago-a-midwest-pipe-bomber-tried-to-make-a-smiley-face-on-national-map?ajs_aid=da7b69ca-81f8-41d5-90bb-fd7337a4d74e Written by: Mark Wasson Hosted by: Trisha Taurinskas 

The 1979 death of a young woman, Denise Daly, who fell from a moving grain truck in Carlton County, Minnesota, was initially thought to be a suicide or an accident. That was until an anonymous tip nearly 15 years later connected the incident to the 1983 fire that claimed the life of her sister, Mary Daly, and infant nephew, Christopher Daly, in Superior, Wisconsin. First-degree murder charges against two individuals were dismissed in 1996 because of irregularities in the grand jury proceedings, Sixth Judicial District Judge Donovan Frank ruled. The grand jury returned the indictments about five hours after they watched the O.J. Simpson verdict on TV at the Carlton County Courthouse. "Both cases involved a male member of a racial minority allegedly killing a Caucasian woman with whom he was intimately involved in a brutal fit of rage," Frank wrote in his decision. "The court agrees with the defendants that O.J. Simpson verdict —and the emotions it incited —injected prejudice or the appearance of prejudice into the grand jury deliberations. As a result, this event compromised the integrity of this grand jury process." The State of Minnesota unsuccessfully appealed the trial court's decision Jan. 21, 1997. The arson investigation continued regardless of the decision to drop the incitements in Denise's murder case. New evidence in the arson case surfaced in fall 1995 that eliminated some suspects and raised questions about others, but it remains unsolved.   Written by: Brielle Bredsten Hosted by: Trisha Taurinskas Full story: www.inforum.com/thevault  

Walter Liggett was shot dead while holding a bag of groceries. In part 2 of "The Slaying of Walter Liggett," why a Minnesota governor and a former North Dakota governor were players in the tragedy.   Written by: Tracy Briggs Hosted by: Trisha Taurinskas Link to full story: https://www.inforum.com/news/the-vault/wife-of-former-fargo-newspaper-editor-swore-minnesotas-governor-ordered-the-1935-mob-hit-of-her-husband

Walter Liggett was beaten up, framed on rape charges and eventually murdered. In part 1 of this two-part report, Tracy Briggs explores the question: What was he writing about? Written by: Tracy Briggs  Hosted by: Trisha Taurinskas Full story: https://www.inforum.com/news/the-vault/what-lead-up-to-an-alleged-mob-hit-on-a-former-fargo-newspaper-editor-in-1935

*This episode contains disturbing descriptions of both strangulations and hangings. Please take care while listening.  In this episode, we examine the role of the medical examiner in suspicious death cases. Can a medical examiner determine whether a death was a suicide? The answer is complex. 

I have a bit of a treat for you folks who are fascinated with Al Capone. Forum journalist Tracy Briggs put together a three-part series on some incredibly fascinating — and definitely not well known — stories of Capone and his shocking connections to Minnesota and North Dakota. 

I have a bit of a treat for you folks who are fascinated with Al Capone. Forum journalist Tracy Briggs put together a three-part series on some incredibly fascinating — and definitely not well known — stories of Capone and his shocking connections to Minnesota and North Dakota. 

I have a bit of a treat for you folks who are fascinated with Al Capone. Forum journalist Tracy Briggs put together a three-part series on some incredibly fascinating — and definitely NOT well known — stories of Capone and his shocking connections to Minnesota and North Dakota. 

Expert insight into the death investigation of Refugio Rodriguez reveals critical errors in police procedure that compromised key evidence collected from the crime scene and failed to document critical details related to the hose found around Rodriguez's neck. The review by a retired crime scene investigator comes as police in Montevideo, Minnesota, have referred the Rodriguez case to the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension after a series of Forum News Service investigations revealed oversights and questionable decisions in the original police investigation. Rodriguez was found dead in Chinhinta Park in Montevideo, Minnesota, on Sept. 20, 2020. The initial incident report indicated Rodriguez was found hanging from a tree by a passerby. He was, in fact, found on his knees, with a hose, attached to a tree, wrapped around his neck. Montevideo police later ruled the death a suicide and closed the case . Sal Rastrelli, a retired crime scene investigator with more than 30 years of experience, specializes in cases involving suicides and homicides. He was provided with investigative documents obtained by Forum News Service related to the death of Rodriguez, including the police report, medical examiner's report and crime scene images.   Full story, written by Trisha Taurinskas, can be found here. https://www.inforum.com/news/the-vault/national-expert-weighs-in-on-refugio-rodriguezs-death-investigation-as-new-image-of-body-surfaces

According to The Forum, the first person to notice the fire that night was Kathryn. She later told investigators she had gone downstairs just after midnight and when she flipped a light switch fire erupted. The Jenkins' son-in-law Dean Bienusa started trying to put it out. He said he told his family along with Kathryn to take refuge from the flames in a black 1961 Ford parked outside. Eventually, the family, including a barefoot Kathryn, ran to the neighbor's house.   Written by Tracy Briggs 

A Minnesota police investigator who closed the case on a possible murder after labeling it a suicide was simultaneously under fire for shoddy police work in another case, according to court records. The matter raises serious concerns for the family of Refugio Rodriguez. Montevideo, Minnesota, Police Department investigator Carmen Beninga closed the investigation into Rodriguez's September 2020 death despite multiple credible leads indicating his death might have been a hitjob, a Forum News Service investigation has shown. Full story can be found here. 

On this episode, Forum Digital Managing Editor Paula Qualm interviews Forum columnist Jim Shaw about the deadly Medina Shootout. Jim recently wrote a 3-column series on the infamous shootout that occurred four decades ago.  https://www.inforum.com/news/north-dakota/the-medina-shootout-40-years-after-the-tragedy-that-didnt-need-to-happen

Sharon Hensley left her home in Bismarck, North Dakota, in the summer of 1970 with peace and love on her mind. She wanted to experience life in a way that she hadn't before, alongside fellow free spirits etching their existence into the aftermath of the now famous "Summer of Love." San Francisco was Hensley's ultimate destination. She succeeded in her journey, yet the life that unfolded looked nothing like the idyllic lifestyle Hensley dreamt up in her North Dakota bedroom. Instead, that life intersected with Felix Vail, her one-time boyfriend who is now known as the nation's oldest serial killer.   https://www.inforum.com/news/the-vault/missing-north-dakota-woman-may-be-victim-of-nations-oldest-serial-killer

Sheltered, wealthy and enamored with alternative medicine, Dorothea and Claire Williamson were the perfect marks for Linda Hazzard, an osteopath-turned-fasting fanatic. The British sisters, both in their 30s, had wealth and a life of leisure, which made it possible to travel whenever they wanted. Orphaned at a young age, the siblings had grown especially close and came to view themselves as their own little family unit. Dorothea, also called Dora, saw herself as the mother figure, treating Claire, just four years younger, like a pampered child. The Williamsons had another peculiarity. They were hypochondriacs. Although nothing was seriously wrong with them, they were sure they weren't well. Dora talked of swollen glands and rheumatic pains, while her younger sister was told by a physician that she had a dropped uterus. While staying at a posh hotel in British Columbia, the sisters spotted an ad for Linda Hazzard's book, "Fasting for the Cure of Disease." And so began their journey with Linda Hazzard...    Written by Tammy Swift https://www.inforum.com/news/the-vault/hazzard-ous-healer-how-this-minnesota-womans-deadly-fasting-methods-finally-caught-up-with-her

Linda Hazzard was a force of nature. She stood nearly as tall as her 6-foot husband, although some wondered if her personality was so imposing that she simply seemed larger than she actually was. A formidable figure with sharp cheekbones, a resolute chin and an unflinching gaze, everything about Hazzard exuded authority. She spoke with unwavering assurance — as if she were absolutely right and anyone who disagreed with her was a fool. While studying osteopathy in her quest to be a nurse, she became convinced that drastic fasting — ingesting only thin vegetable broths for weeks or even months — was the key to healing all disease. Hazzard's followers, who included prominent intellectuals and politicians, swore by her methods and proclaimed her a "gifted and intelligent" healer. Others considered her a serial killer. Written by Tammy Swift  https://www.inforum.com/news/the-vault/minnesota-woman-linda-hazzard-was-infamous-starvation-doctor-whose-brutal-fasting-methods-may-have-killed-14

Every Thursday for 11 years, from 1982 to 1993, millions of Americans settled into their sofas as the notes started playing: "Making your world in the world today takes everything you've got…" The theme song to the sitcom "Cheers" was recently ranked by "Rolling Stone" magazine as the 13th best. Writers praised the song for its initial "somber" lyrics about life's challenges to its "rousing" conclusion about the simple beauty of going somewhere warm and welcoming where "they're always glad you came." For people in northern Minnesota, another element of that open feels like home. One of the photos in the opening montage was taken at a bar in Craigville, Minnesota in 1937.   By Tracy Briggs https://www.inforum.com/news/the-vault/cheers-opening-montage-featured-this-wild-minnesota-logging-town