>>14th Juror Chosen in Fravel Murder Trial, 3 Alternates Still Needed
(Mankato, MN) — A 14th juror has been seated in the murder trial of Adam Fravel (FRAY-vuhl). The court still needs three additional alternates to move forward with the trial. Fravel is charged with the first- and second-degree murder of his ex-girlfriend and the mother of their two children, Madeline Kingsbury of Winona. Kingsbury went missing in March 2023, and her body was found north of Mabel in June 2023. The case was moved from Winona to Mankato due to extensive news coverage.
>>Haunted Hayride in St. Augusta Closes Following 13-Year-Old’s Death
(St. Augusta, MN) — Organizers of the Harvest of Horror Haunted Hayride in St. Augusta are canceling the remaining nights this season due to the death of a 13-year-old boy. Stearns County authorities say Alexander Mick of Rice was run over by a trolley wagon and dragged by a tractor Saturday night. An off-duty police officer and a medic at the scene could not save Xander. Harvest of Horror officials said in a statement, “This event deeply shakes us, and we are asking for thoughts, prayers, and support for the family and friends of the individual involved and all those affected by this tragedy.”
>>Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office Investigates County Forensic Lab Potential Contamination of DNA Samples
(Minneapolis, MN) — The Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office is starting its own investigation after 75 DNA samples were contaminated in the county’s Forensic Science Laboratory (HCSO) earlier this year. Current testing has been suspended. A Hennepin County Attorney’s Office spokesperson says they were notified on September 26th, but the lab (HSCO) didn’t release a statement until yesterday. The sheriff’s office says the contamination comes from an “unknown DNA profile.” The HSCO lab contains at least 50,000 DNA samples.
>>Forest Lake Couple Dead After Benton Crash
(Benton, MN) — A Forest Lake couple is dead after a crash in Benton Friday. Carver County deputies responded to the scene around noon at an intersection of two county roads. Officials say a northbound dump truck hit a sedan heading west while both attempted to cross through the intersection. The sedan driver, 75-year-old Richard Hahn, was pronounced dead at the scene. His wife, 75-year-old Jeanette Hanhn, was brought to HCMC with serious injuries that she later succumbed to. The dump truck driver, a 32-year-old man from Arlington, was uninjured. The crash is under investigation.
>>Trump Campaign Misses Deadline to Reimburse City of St. Cloud
(St. Cloud, MN) — The Trump campaign missed a deadline to reimburse the city of St. Cloud for expenses incurred from a July rally. The city sent the campaign an invoice for nearly $209,000 on September 10th with a due date of October 10th. Mayor Dave Kleis (Klice), says the city has used its reserves to cover the costs, including overtime pay owed to city staff for working the Saturday event. A second invoice was sent to the Trump campaign late last week.
>>Man Indicted in 2023 Oak Grove Golf Club Murder
(Oak Grove, MN) — A 45-year-old man accused of stabbing a grocery store clerk with a golf club last year faces first- and second-degree murder charges. Taylor Schulz was indicted Thursday in the murder of 66-year-old Robert Skafte. On December 8th (2023), Schulz entered Oak Grove Grocery to buy something. As soon as he reached the counter, Schulz attacked Skafte, grabbing a golf club from behind it and beating him with it until it broke. Schulz then stabbed Skafte with the broken club. Minnesota court records show Skafte was civilly committed in 2021 due to a “major mental illness” and “risk of harm.”
>>Minivan vs. Amish Buggy Crash in New York Mills
(New York Mills, MN) — A New York Mills woman is seriously injured after a minivan vs. Amish buggy crash in Otter Tail County Monday. Deputies responded to the crash around 5:50 p.m. on County Highway 67 in New York Mills, MN, where a southbound minivan rear-ended a horse-drawn Amish buggy. The buggy driver, 40-year-old Mable Stauffer, suffered serious injuries and was brought to Perham Health. The minivan driver, 85-year-old Allyn Jokela, was treated at the scene for non-life-threatening injuries. Alcohol and controlled substances were not factors in the crash. The crash is under investigation.