The Vault
Join host Trisha Taurinskas as we delve into the news vault for a fresh look at the cold cases, crime and intrigue in our upper Midwest communities. Brought to you by Forum Communications Company.
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The Disappearance of Belinda Van Lith: PART 7
04/16/2024
The Disappearance of Belinda Van Lith: PART 7
This is part 7, the final episode in the series on the disapperance of Belinda Van Lith, and the investigation that followed. Belinda Van Lith (also known as Belinda VanLith) went missing from a home she was house siting on Eagle Lake, outside of Monticello, Minnesota in the summer of 1974. Her case was never solved. A months-long Forum News Service investigation, in collaboration with the Van Lith family, led to the release of Belinda’s 1,200-page police casefile and an exclusive interview with the main suspect, Timothy Crosby. The investigation reveals glaring failures in the early stages of Belinda’s case, including many missed opportunities to fully investigate Crosby’s possible involvement in her disappearance. Many suspicious signs were downplayed or ignored. Law enforcement did not attempt to search the field where Crosby’s vehicle was stranded on the night Belinda went missing; They did not examine evidence stemming from Crosby’s December 1974 crimes that could have, potentially, put Belinda’s case to rest. Meanwhile, Belinda’s casefile shows, Crosby earned a record over the next decade as a serial criminal, kidnapping and assaulting multiple women. Yet he faced only light punishment, or charges against him were dropped. Wright County Sheriff’s Office Investigations Division attempted from 2009 to 2013 to fill the gaps left behind from the initial investigation, yet their efforts did not lead to justice for Belinda or her family. In 2010, the state of Minnesota successfully argued that Crosby was a sexual recidivist and a danger to the public. As a result, he was committed to the secure Moose Lake Sex Offender Program facility, where he is currently locked up. He has not been charged with crimes related to Belinda’s disappearance. This episode is written, narrated and produced by Trisha Taurinskas. The Vault's editor is Jeremy Fugleberg. Trisha can be reached at [email protected] To see documents from the case file and photos of Belinda, Crosby and others mentioned in this series, visit To support The Vault, become a Forum News Network subscriber:
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The Disappearance of Belinda Van Lith: PART 6
04/05/2024
The Disappearance of Belinda Van Lith: PART 6
This is part 6 in an ongoing series on the disapperance of Belinda Van Lith, and the investigation that followed. Belinda Van Lith (also known as Belinda VanLith) went missing from a home she was house siting on Eagle Lake, outside of Monticello, Minnesota in the summer of 1974. Her case was never solved. A months-long Forum News Service investigation, in collaboration with the Van Lith family, led to the release of Belinda’s 1,200-page police casefile and an exclusive interview with the main suspect, Timothy Crosby. The investigation reveals glaring failures in the early stages of Belinda’s case, including many missed opportunities to fully investigate Crosby’s possible involvement in her disappearance. Many suspicious signs were downplayed or ignored. Law enforcement did not attempt to search the field where Crosby’s vehicle was stranded on the night Belinda went missing; They did not examine evidence stemming from Crosby’s December 1974 crimes that could have, potentially, put Belinda’s case to rest. Meanwhile, Belinda’s casefile shows, Crosby earned a record over the next decade as a serial criminal, kidnapping and assaulting multiple women. Yet he faced only light punishment, or charges against him were dropped. Wright County Sheriff’s Office Investigations Division attempted from 2009 to 2013 to fill the gaps left behind from the initial investigation, yet their efforts did not lead to justice for Belinda or her family. In 2010, the state of Minnesota successfully argued that Crosby was a sexual recidivist and a danger to the public. As a result, he was committed to the secure Moose Lake Sex Offender Program facility, where he is currently locked up. He has not been charged with crimes related to Belinda’s disappearance. This episode is written, narrated and produced by Trisha Taurinskas. The Vault's editor is Jeremy Fugleberg. Trisha can be reached at [email protected] To see documents from the case file and photos of Belinda, Crosby and others mentioned in this series, visit To support The Vault, become a Forum News Network subscriber:
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The Disappearance of Belinda Van Lith: PART 5
03/18/2024
The Disappearance of Belinda Van Lith: PART 5
This is part 5 in an ongoing series on the disapperance of Belinda Van Lith, and the investigation that followed. Belinda Van Lith (also known as Belinda VanLith) went missing from a home she was house siting on Eagle Lake, outside of Monticello, Minnesota in the summer of 1974. Her case was never solved. A months-long Forum News Service investigation, in collaboration with the Van Lith family, led to the release of Belinda’s 1,200-page police casefile and an exclusive interview with the main suspect, Timothy Crosby. The investigation reveals glaring failures in the early stages of Belinda’s case, including many missed opportunities to fully investigate Crosby’s possible involvement in her disappearance. Many suspicious signs were downplayed or ignored. Law enforcement did not attempt to search the field where Crosby’s vehicle was stranded on the night Belinda went missing; They did not examine evidence stemming from Crosby’s December 1974 crimes that could have, potentially, put Belinda’s case to rest. Meanwhile, Belinda’s casefile shows, Crosby earned a record over the next decade as a serial criminal, kidnapping and assaulting multiple women. Yet he faced only light punishment, or charges against him were dropped. Wright County Sheriff’s Office Investigations Division attempted from 2009 to 2013 to fill the gaps left behind from the initial investigation, yet their efforts did not lead to justice for Belinda or her family. In 2010, the state of Minnesota successfully argued that Crosby was a sexual recidivist and a danger to the public. As a result, he was committed to the secure Moose Lake Sex Offender Program facility, where he is currently locked up. He has not been charged with crimes related to Belinda’s disappearance. This episode is written, narrated and produced by Trisha Taurinskas. The Vault's editor is Jeremy Fugleberg. Trisha can be reached at [email protected] To see documents from the case file and photos of Belinda, Crosby and others mentioned in this series, visit To support The Vault, become a Forum News Network subscriber:
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The Disappearance of Belinda Van Lith: PART 4
03/03/2024
The Disappearance of Belinda Van Lith: PART 4
This is part 4 in an ongoing series on the disapperance of Belinda Van Lith, and the investigation that followed. Belinda Van Lith (also known as Belinda VanLith) went missing from a home she was house siting on Eagle Lake, outside of Monticello, Minnesota in the summer of 1974. Her case was never solved. A months-long Forum News Service investigation, in collaboration with the Van Lith family, led to the release of Belinda’s 1,200-page police casefile and an exclusive interview with the main suspect, Timothy Crosby. The investigation reveals glaring failures in the early stages of Belinda’s case, including many missed opportunities to fully investigate Crosby’s possible involvement in her disappearance. Many suspicious signs were downplayed or ignored. Law enforcement did not attempt to search the field where Crosby’s vehicle was stranded on the night Belinda went missing; They did not examine evidence stemming from Crosby’s December 1974 crimes that could have, potentially, put Belinda’s case to rest. Meanwhile, Belinda’s casefile shows, Crosby earned a record over the next decade as a serial criminal, kidnapping and assaulting multiple women. Yet he faced only light punishment, or charges against him were dropped. Wright County Sheriff’s Office Investigations Division attempted from 2009 to 2013 to fill the gaps left behind from the initial investigation, yet their efforts did not lead to justice for Belinda or her family. In 2010, the state of Minnesota successfully argued that Crosby was a sexual recidivist and a danger to the public. As a result, he was committed to the secure Moose Lake Sex Offender Program facility, where he is currently locked up. He has not been charged with crimes related to Belinda’s disappearance. This episode is written, narrated and produced by Trisha Taurinskas. The Vault's editor is Jeremy Fugleberg. Trisha can be reached at [email protected] To see documents from the case file and photos of Belinda, Crosby and others mentioned in this series, visit inforum.com/belinda
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The Disappearance of Belinda Van Lith: PART 3
02/23/2024
The Disappearance of Belinda Van Lith: PART 3
This is part 3 in an ongoing series on the disapperance of Belinda Van Lith, and the investigation that followed. Belinda Van Lith (also known as Belinda VanLith) went missing from a home she was house siting on Eagle Lake, outside of Monticello, Minnesota in the summer of 1974. Her case was never solved. A months-long Forum News Service investigation, in collaboration with the Van Lith family, led to the release of Belinda’s 1,200-page police casefile and an exclusive interview with the main suspect, Timothy Crosby. The investigation reveals glaring failures in the early stages of Belinda’s case, including many missed opportunities to fully investigate Crosby’s possible involvement in her disappearance. Many suspicious signs were downplayed or ignored. Law enforcement did not attempt to search the field where Crosby’s vehicle was stranded on the night Belinda went missing; They did not examine evidence stemming from Crosby’s December 1974 crimes that could have, potentially, put Belinda’s case to rest. Meanwhile, Belinda’s casefile shows, Crosby earned a record over the next decade as a serial criminal, kidnapping and assaulting multiple women. Yet he faced only light punishment, or charges against him were dropped. Wright County Sheriff’s Office Investigations Division attempted from 2009 to 2013 to fill the gaps left behind from the initial investigation, yet their efforts did not lead to justice for Belinda or her family. In 2010, the state of Minnesota successfully argued that Crosby was a sexual recidivist and a danger to the public. As a result, he was committed to the secure Moose Lake Sex Offender Program facility, where he is currently locked up. He has not been charged with crimes related to Belinda’s disappearance. This episode is written, narrated and produced by Trisha Taurinskas. The Vault's editor is Jeremy Fugleberg. Trisha can be reached at To see documents from the case file and photos of Belinda, Crosby and others mentioned in this series, visit
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The Disappearance of Belinda Van Lith: AN UPDATE
02/16/2024
The Disappearance of Belinda Van Lith: AN UPDATE
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 . 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, 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
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The Disappearance of Belinda Van Lith: PART 2
02/09/2024
The Disappearance of Belinda Van Lith: PART 2
This is part 2 in an ongoing series on the disapperance 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. The Vault's editor is Jeremy Fugleberg. 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
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The Disappearance of Belinda Van Lith: PART 1
01/30/2024
The Disappearance of Belinda Van Lith: PART 1
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. The Vault's editor is Jeremy Fugleberg. 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
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The Night Kevin Mahoney Vanished: PART 2 OF 2
11/15/2023
The Night Kevin Mahoney Vanished: PART 2 OF 2
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
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The Night Kevin Mahoney Vanished: PART 1 OF 2
11/02/2023
The Night Kevin Mahoney Vanished: PART 1 OF 2
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
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Holly Spangler Murder: PART 2 OF 2
10/13/2023
Holly Spangler Murder: PART 2 OF 2
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
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Holly Spangler Murder: PART 1 OF 2
10/04/2023
Holly Spangler Murder: PART 1 OF 2
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
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Madeline Kingsbury Murder: A Timeline of Events
08/09/2023
Madeline Kingsbury Murder: A Timeline of Events
On June 7 – a little over two months after Madeline "Maddi" Kingsbury went missing – 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 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
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Dakota Desperado: The infamous Rust murders
07/03/2023
Dakota Desperado: The infamous Rust murders
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
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Loyal Lundstrom, Part 2: Motel murder
06/23/2023
Loyal Lundstrom, Part 2: Motel murder
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
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Loyal Lundstrom, Part 1: Mysterious lake resort death
06/20/2023
Loyal Lundstrom, Part 1: Mysterious lake resort death
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
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Kate Richards O’Hare: She delivered anti-war speeches all over the U.S., but North Dakota threw her in prison for it
06/01/2023
Kate Richards O’Hare: She delivered anti-war speeches all over the U.S., but North Dakota threw her in prison for it
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:
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Vanished in Vermillion: A reporter's deep dive into South Dakota's most infamous cold case
05/17/2023
Vanished in Vermillion: A reporter's deep dive into South Dakota's most infamous cold case
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
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A farm party murder. Who killed Karla Jo Nieland?
05/04/2023
A farm party murder. Who killed Karla Jo Nieland?
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
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Midwest pipe bomber tried to make a 'smiley face' on national map
04/26/2023
Midwest pipe bomber tried to make a 'smiley face' on national map
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, . 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: Hosted by: Trisha Taurinskas
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How the O.J. Simpson verdict swayed justice in a Minnesota murder case
04/19/2023
How the O.J. Simpson verdict swayed justice in a Minnesota murder case
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: Hosted by: Trisha Taurinskas Full story:
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Walter Liggett, part 2: Did Minnesota's former governor order the mob hit?
04/14/2023
Walter Liggett, part 2: Did Minnesota's former governor order the mob hit?
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
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Walter Liggett, part 1: A mob hit on a former Fargo newspaper editor?
04/12/2023
Walter Liggett, part 1: A mob hit on a former Fargo newspaper editor?
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
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Refugio Rodriguez, part 4: Homicide or suicide? What role does the medical examiner play in determining how a person died
03/30/2023
Refugio Rodriguez, part 4: Homicide or suicide? What role does the medical examiner play in determining how a person died
*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.
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Al Capone, part 3: Are the rumors true?
03/17/2023
Al Capone, part 3: Are the rumors true?
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.
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Al Capone, part 2: A small-town waitress and an infamous bootlegger
03/17/2023
Al Capone, part 2: A small-town waitress and an infamous bootlegger
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.
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Al Capone, part 1: His brother was a prohibition agent in North Dakota?
03/17/2023
Al Capone, part 1: His brother was a prohibition agent in 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.
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Refugio Rodriguez, part 3: Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension agrees to review investigation as national expert weighs in
03/09/2023
Refugio Rodriguez, part 3: Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension agrees to review investigation as national expert weighs in
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 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 . 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
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What happened to 8-year-old girl saved by father in '68 fire
02/21/2023
What happened to 8-year-old girl saved by father in '68 fire
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
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Refugio Rodriguez, part 2: Sole investigator had case thrown out due to bad police work
02/17/2023
Refugio Rodriguez, part 2: Sole investigator had case thrown out due to bad police work
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 .
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