Crafting a Killer: The Harvey Carignan Story | PART 4
The Vault
In Part 4, the investigation into Joli Truelson’s 1972 murder takes us back to Minneapolis — and to evidence the police destroyed. Joli died after being struck in the back of the head with what investigators believed was a hammer. We examine whether Harvey Carignan was ever a suspect in her killing, and explore the other murders he is suspected of committing. Find the 3-part accompanying article series here: Facebook: TikTok: Instagram: The Vault is a Forum Communications podcast, written and hosted by Trisha Taurinskas
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Crafting a Killer: The Harvey Carignan Story | PART 3
The Vault
In Part 3: After the 19-year-old nursing student identifies Harvey Carignan, detectives realize they have a serial killer on their hands. He’s promptly arrested for two murders. A map of the United States and British Columbia found in his vehicle reveals possible burial sites of other victims. And the nursing student tells us what angered her most about her attack — and what happened afterward. Find the 3-part accompanying article series here: Facebook: TikTok: Instagram: The Vault is a Forum Communications podcast, written and hosted by Trisha Taurinskas
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Crafting a Killer: The Harvey Carignan Story | PART 2
The Vault
In part two of this series: Harvey Carignan rises to the top of the suspect list in the 1973 murder of a 15-year-old Seattle girl after escaping the death penalty in Alaska for the murder of a 57-year-old woman. And, Harvey's troubled childhood in North Dakota is examined. Find the 3-part accompanying article series here: Facebook: TikTok: Instagram: The Vault is a Forum Communications podcast, written and hosted by Trisha Taurinskas
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Crafting a Killer: The Harvey Carignan Story | PART 1
The Vault
In part one of this series: Previously sealed Minnesota trial transcripts and an intimate interview with a woman who survived Harvey Carignan's attacks shed light on the life and crimes of Harvey Carignan. Find the 3-part accompanying article series here: Facebook: TikTok: Instagram: The Vault is a Forum Communications podcast, written and hosted by Trisha Taurinskas.
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The Search for Isadora Wengel: ACTIVE CASE
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...
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Who Killed Kelly? | PART 3
The Vault
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...
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Who Killed Kelly? | PART 2
The Vault
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: This episode is written and produced by Trisha Taurinskas. A special thank you to Jean Monthei for her...
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Who Killed Kelly? | PART 1
The Vault
Forty years after a 22-year-old woman was found floating in gravel pit pond in rural Minnesota, a man who was adopted as 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...
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The Cocaine King of Minnesota | The Story Behind The Story
The Vault
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
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Cold Case Arrest: Baby Angel's Story
The Vault
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...
info_outlineThis 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