Dakota Spotlight: True Crime & Cold Case Investigations

Episode 1 of You Killed Chris: A Friend’s Fight for Justice begins with the shocking and unsolved 1968 murder of 18-year-old freshman Christine Rothschild outside Sterling Hall on the University of Wisconsin–Madison campus. Journalist James Wolner introduces listeners to Christine’s classmate and friend Linda, whose memories reflect on their friendship, the promise of youth, and the upheaval of campus life during the 1960s counterculture. Through Linda’s perspective, we begin to understand Christine’s life, the impact of her loss, and the haunting mystery that still surrounds her cold case. Two Good Books about Christine Rothschild: Murder on the 56th Day: Linda Schulko. Get the Kindle version of Linda’s great book. Linda donates all proceeds to charity. Get Linda’s book on Amazon⁠ https://amzn.to/4cX0DEe⁠ Cold: The Unsolved Murders of Seven Young Women: Kevin Damask. Get Kevin’s book on Amazon⁠ https://amzn.to/43YFy8l ⁠ A very special thanks goes out this season to Mari Zoerb Hansen, a 4th generation UW alum, for all the amazing research, fact checking and just stellar assistance with this season. Mari’s dedication and hard work on this story is in the memory of her late father, David Zoerb, who was finishing his senior year at UW when Christine was murdered. Thank you Mari. Check out the full catalog and everything Dakota Spotlight: https://dakotaspotlight.com/ Get all episodes early, ad-free, and more. Subscribe to Spotlight PLUS: https://dakotaspotlight.com/spotlight-plus/ Sign up for the Dakota Spotlight newsletter: https://dakotaspotlight.com/newsletter/ Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://facebook.com/groups/dakotaspotlight X/Twitter: @dakotaspotlight Instagram: @dakotaspotlight TikTok: @dakotaspotlight Bluesky: @dakotaspotlight.bsky.social YouTube: @dakotaspotlightpodcast4800 Proudly produced by Six Horse Media: [email protected] Advertise your podcast or brand in Dakota Spotlight episodes: [email protected] All content in this podcast, including audio, interviews, and soundscapes, is the property of Six Horse Media. Any unauthorized use, reproduction, or rebroadcast of this material without the express written consent of Six Horse Media is strictly prohibited. For permissions or inquiries, please contact [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Season 10 of Dakota Spotlight, You Killed Chris: A Friend’s Fight for Justice, revisits one of Madison, Wisconsin’s most haunting cold cases: the unsolved 1968 murder of 18-year-old college freshman Christine Rothschild. Hosted by James Wolner, this season explores the turbulent 1960s counterculture, shifting societal norms, and the impact of violence on the University of Wisconsin–Madison community. Going beyond the headlines of the Manson murders, You Killed Chris highlights a lesser-known case, focusing on Christine’s friend Linda and her decades-long fight to keep the truth alive. Two Good Books about Christine Rothschild: Murder on the 56th Day: Linda Schulko. Get the Kindle version of Linda’s great book. Linda donates all proceeds to charity. Get Linda’s book on Amazon⁠ https://amzn.to/4cX0DEe⁠ Cold: The Unsolved Murders of Seven Young Women: Kevin Damask. Get Kevin’s book on Amazon⁠ https://amzn.to/43YFy8l ⁠ A very special thanks goes out this season to Mari Zoerb Hansen, a 4th generation UW alum, for all the amazing research, fact checking and just stellar assistance with this season. Mari’s dedication and hard work on this story is in the memory of her late father, David Zoerb, who was finishing his senior year at UW when Christine was murdered. Thank you Mari. Check out the full catalog and everything Dakota Spotlight: https://dakotaspotlight.com/ Get all episodes early, ad-free, and more. Subscribe to Spotlight PLUS: https://dakotaspotlight.com/spotlight-plus/ Sign up for the Dakota Spotlight newsletter: https://dakotaspotlight.com/newsletter/ Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://facebook.com/groups/dakotaspotlight X/Twitter: @dakotaspotlight Instagram: @dakotaspotlight TikTok: @dakotaspotlight Bluesky: @dakotaspotlight.bsky.social YouTube: @dakotaspotlightpodcast4800 Proudly produced by Six Horse Media: [email protected] Advertise your podcast or brand in Dakota Spotlight episodes: [email protected] All content in this podcast, including audio, interviews, and soundscapes, is the property of Six Horse Media. Any unauthorized use, reproduction, or rebroadcast of this material without the express written consent of Six Horse Media is strictly prohibited. For permissions or inquiries, please contact [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, James interviews Trisha Taurinskas, creator and host of "The Disappearance of Belinda Van Lith"; a podcast detailing the events surrounding the 1974 cold case in Eagle Lake, MN. Trisha's investigation into Belinda's disappearance exposed significant early investigative failures and missed opportunities to probe the main suspect. Check out "The Disappearance of Belinda Van Lith", by Trisha Taurinskas at https://www.inforum.com/people/belinda-van-lith/?utm_source=dakota_spotlight. Check out the full catalog of Dakota Spotlight true crime podcasts at https://dakotaspotlight.com where you can sign up for a newsletter, subscribe to the new and exciting Spotlight PLUS ad-free experience and much more. Head over to https://dakotaspotlight.com to learn more. Advertise your podcast or brand in Dakota Spotlight episodes by sending email to [email protected] Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://facebook.com/groups/dakotaspotlight Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Originally broadcast Summer 2021. When Kirra McLoughlin died her boyfriend said she must have overdosed on prescription drugs. That didn't explain the over one hundred bruises on her body however. And yet, nobody has been charged with Kirra's death. That didn't sit well with Jamie Pultz. He had met Kirra once at his former job, back when he was a police officer in Queensland Australia. When he heard that Kirra had died and nobody had been held accountable, he decided to do something about it. This is the third installment of our summer series about mysterious crimes and disappearances from around the globe and the people who fight to get justice for victims and their families. Jamie Pultz's media company Six 10 Media Beenham Valley Road podcast on Spotify Check out the full catalog of Dakota Spotlight true crime podcasts at https://dakotaspotlight.com where you can sign up for a newsletter, subscribe to the new and exciting Spotlight PLUS ad-free experience and much more. Head over to https://dakotaspotlight.com to learn more. Advertise your podcast or brand in Dakota Spotlight episodes by sending email to [email protected] Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://facebook.com/groups/dakotaspotlight Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The 1976 murders of Wade and Ellen Zick shocked the small town of Zeeland, North Dakota, and remain one of the region’s most disturbing true crime cases. Episode 9, Sebastian Speaks Out, features a telephone interview with Sebastian Feist from federal prison. After years of silence, Feist discusses his time in Zeeland, the crime, and his perspective on why the Zicks were killed. This rare conversation offers insight into the people, decisions, and violence that turned a rural crime into one of North Dakota’s most haunting unsolved murder stories. Music by Peter Hicks – performed by Sleepy Driver: ⁠https://sleepydriver.bandcamp.com/⁠ ‘To God be the Glory‘ sung by the Sunday School kids at St Peter’s church, Chaffee, North Dakota Check out the full catalog and everything Dakota Spotlight: https://dakotaspotlight.com/ Get all episodes early, ad-free, and more. Subscribe to Spotlight PLUS: https://dakotaspotlight.com/spotlight-plus/ Sign up for the Dakota Spotlight newsletter: https://dakotaspotlight.com/newsletter/ Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://facebook.com/groups/dakotaspotlight X/Twitter: @dakotaspotlight Instagram: @dakotaspotlight TikTok: @dakotaspotlight Bluesky: @dakotaspotlight.bsky.social YouTube: @dakotaspotlightpodcast4800 Proudly produced by Six Horse Media: [email protected] Advertise your podcast or brand in Dakota Spotlight episodes: [email protected] All content in this podcast, including audio, interviews, and soundscapes, is the property of Six Horse Media. Any unauthorized use, reproduction, or rebroadcast of this material without the express written consent of Six Horse Media is strictly prohibited. For permissions or inquiries, please contact [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The 1976 murders of Wade and Ellen Zick devastated the small town of Zeeland, North Dakota, leaving behind one of the region’s most haunting true crime cases. Episode 7, Crossing the Street, examines chapters Guns and Piggy Banks, California Dreaming, No Different Than You, and Crossing the Street. These stories reveal the pressures, choices, and shifting realities faced by those connected to the crime. Zeeland continues its investigative journalism approach, uncovering how rural crime and small town murder shattered lives and reshaped a community. Music by Peter Hicks – performed by Sleepy Driver: ⁠https://sleepydriver.bandcamp.com/⁠ ‘To God be the Glory‘ sung by the Sunday School kids at St Peter’s church, Chaffee, North Dakota Check out the full catalog and everything Dakota Spotlight: https://dakotaspotlight.com/ Get all episodes early, ad-free, and more. Subscribe to Spotlight PLUS: https://dakotaspotlight.com/spotlight-plus/ Sign up for the Dakota Spotlight newsletter: https://dakotaspotlight.com/newsletter/ Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://facebook.com/groups/dakotaspotlight X/Twitter: @dakotaspotlight Instagram: @dakotaspotlight TikTok: @dakotaspotlight Bluesky: @dakotaspotlight.bsky.social YouTube: @dakotaspotlightpodcast4800 Proudly produced by Six Horse Media: [email protected] Advertise your podcast or brand in Dakota Spotlight episodes: [email protected] All content in this podcast, including audio, interviews, and soundscapes, is the property of Six Horse Media. Any unauthorized use, reproduction, or rebroadcast of this material without the express written consent of Six Horse Media is strictly prohibited. For permissions or inquiries, please contact [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode James interviews Lee Strubinger, creator of "Short Walk", a nine-episode podcast, detailing the events surrounding former South Dakota Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg. The story covers the period from when Ravnsborg struck and killed pedestrian Joe Boever in September 2020, through the investigations, public reactions, and political ramifications, leading to Ravnsborg's impeachment and removal from office in 2022. The podcast examines the complexities and implications of the case, highlighting the legal and political struggles involved​. Check out the full catalog of Dakota Spotlight true crime podcasts at https://dakotaspotlight.com where you can sign up for a newsletter, subscribe to the new and exciting Spotlight PLUS ad-free experience and much more. Head over to https://dakotaspotlight.com to learn more. Advertise your podcast or brand in Dakota Spotlight episodes by sending email to [email protected] Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://facebook.com/groups/dakotaspotlight Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The 1976 Zeeland murders of Wade and Ellen Zick remain one of North Dakota’s most disturbing cold cases. Episode 6, Flip a Coin, explores the events that followed with chapters including Valentine’s Day, County Jail, Strong Coffee and Nazis, Worse than Death, and David Feist. These moments reveal surprising conversations, community dynamics, and the people whose actions reshaped the investigation. Zeeland continues its documentary style true crime storytelling, uncovering how small town murder and rural crime left a permanent mark on the community. Music by Peter Hicks – performed by Sleepy Driver: ⁠https://sleepydriver.bandcamp.com/⁠ ‘To God be the Glory‘ sung by the Sunday School kids at St Peter’s church, Chaffee, North Dakota Check out the full catalog and everything Dakota Spotlight: https://dakotaspotlight.com/ Get all episodes early, ad-free, and more. Subscribe to Spotlight PLUS: https://dakotaspotlight.com/spotlight-plus/ Sign up for the Dakota Spotlight newsletter: https://dakotaspotlight.com/newsletter/ Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://facebook.com/groups/dakotaspotlight X/Twitter: @dakotaspotlight Instagram: @dakotaspotlight TikTok: @dakotaspotlight Bluesky: @dakotaspotlight.bsky.social YouTube: @dakotaspotlightpodcast4800 Proudly produced by Six Horse Media: [email protected] Advertise your podcast or brand in Dakota Spotlight episodes: [email protected] All content in this podcast, including audio, interviews, and soundscapes, is the property of Six Horse Media. Any unauthorized use, reproduction, or rebroadcast of this material without the express written consent of Six Horse Media is strictly prohibited. For permissions or inquiries, please contact [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The 1976 murders of Wade and Ellen Zick remain one of North Dakota’s most haunting true crime cases. Episode 5, Caramel Rolls, continues the story with chapters Caramel Rolls, Say Something, and It’s About Time. These moments reveal the community’s uneasy conversations, shifting loyalties, and the long silence that often surrounds small town murder. Zeeland blends investigative journalism and documentary style true crime storytelling to explore how rural crime devastated Zeeland and why this cold case still resonates nearly half a century later. Music by Peter Hicks – performed by Sleepy Driver: ⁠https://sleepydriver.bandcamp.com/⁠ ‘To God be the Glory‘ sung by the Sunday School kids at St Peter’s church, Chaffee, North Dakota Check out the full catalog and everything Dakota Spotlight: https://dakotaspotlight.com/ Get all episodes early, ad-free, and more. Subscribe to Spotlight PLUS: https://dakotaspotlight.com/spotlight-plus/ Sign up for the Dakota Spotlight newsletter: https://dakotaspotlight.com/newsletter/ Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://facebook.com/groups/dakotaspotlight X/Twitter: @dakotaspotlight Instagram: @dakotaspotlight TikTok: @dakotaspotlight Bluesky: @dakotaspotlight.bsky.social YouTube: @dakotaspotlightpodcast4800 Proudly produced by Six Horse Media: [email protected] Advertise your podcast or brand in Dakota Spotlight episodes: [email protected] All content in this podcast, including audio, interviews, and soundscapes, is the property of Six Horse Media. Any unauthorized use, reproduction, or rebroadcast of this material without the express written consent of Six Horse Media is strictly prohibited. For permissions or inquiries, please contact [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The brutal 1976 murders of Wade and Ellen Zick in Zeeland, North Dakota left investigators and neighbors chasing every possible lead. Episode 4, Pink Slip, moves deeper into the story with chapters including Sunland, The House on Third Street, Sour Cream and Salsa, Standing Room Only, Pink Slip, and Two Brothers and a Friend. These moments reveal the shifting suspicions, whispered rumors, and growing fear inside a small town trying to understand what happened. Zeeland is a documentary style true crime series investigating how rural crime devastated a tight-knit community and became one of North Dakota’s most haunting cold cases. Music by Peter Hicks – performed by Sleepy Driver: ⁠https://sleepydriver.bandcamp.com/⁠ ‘To God be the Glory‘ sung by the Sunday School kids at St Peter’s church, Chaffee, North Dakota Check out the full catalog and everything Dakota Spotlight: https://dakotaspotlight.com/ Get all episodes early, ad-free, and more. Subscribe to Spotlight PLUS: https://dakotaspotlight.com/spotlight-plus/ Sign up for the Dakota Spotlight newsletter: https://dakotaspotlight.com/newsletter/ Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://facebook.com/groups/dakotaspotlight X/Twitter: @dakotaspotlight Instagram: @dakotaspotlight TikTok: @dakotaspotlight Bluesky: @dakotaspotlight.bsky.social YouTube: @dakotaspotlightpodcast4800 Proudly produced by Six Horse Media: [email protected] Advertise your podcast or brand in Dakota Spotlight episodes: [email protected] All content in this podcast, including audio, interviews, and soundscapes, is the property of Six Horse Media. Any unauthorized use, reproduction, or rebroadcast of this material without the express written consent of Six Horse Media is strictly prohibited. For permissions or inquiries, please contact [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode we recap the Zeeland Rebroadcast and provide sneak-peaks of exclusive content available to Spotlight PLUS subscribers. Permission to use the music in this episode kindly granted by Sleepy Driver https://sleepydriver.bandcamp.com Check out the full catalog of Dakota Spotlight true crime podcasts at https://dakotaspotlight.com where you can sign up for a newsletter, subscribe to the new and exciting Spotlight PLUS ad-free experience and much more. Head over to https://dakotaspotlight.com to learn more. Advertise your podcast or brand in Dakota Spotlight episodes by sending email to [email protected] Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://facebook.com/groups/dakotaspotlight Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On July 11, 1976, Wade and Ellen Zick were murdered in their Zeeland, North Dakota home, leaving a community devastated. Episode 3, Z is for Zick, revisits that night with chapters including Until Dawn, Z is for Zick, First Daylight, Hitchhiker, and Windows of Darkness. These accounts paint a chilling picture of fear, suspicion, and shock as neighbors and investigators confronted the brutal crime. Zeeland continues its documentary style true crime investigation into how a small town murder left lasting scars on rural North Dakota. Music by Peter Hicks – performed by Sleepy Driver: ⁠https://sleepydriver.bandcamp.com/⁠ ‘To God be the Glory‘ sung by the Sunday School kids at St Peter’s church, Chaffee, North Dakota Check out the full catalog and everything Dakota Spotlight: https://dakotaspotlight.com/ Get all episodes early, ad-free, and more. Subscribe to Spotlight PLUS: https://dakotaspotlight.com/spotlight-plus/ Sign up for the Dakota Spotlight newsletter: https://dakotaspotlight.com/newsletter/ Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://facebook.com/groups/dakotaspotlight X/Twitter: @dakotaspotlight Instagram: @dakotaspotlight TikTok: @dakotaspotlight Bluesky: @dakotaspotlight.bsky.social YouTube: @dakotaspotlightpodcast4800 Proudly produced by Six Horse Media: [email protected] Advertise your podcast or brand in Dakota Spotlight episodes: [email protected] All content in this podcast, including audio, interviews, and soundscapes, is the property of Six Horse Media. Any unauthorized use, reproduction, or rebroadcast of this material without the express written consent of Six Horse Media is strictly prohibited. For permissions or inquiries, please contact [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Valentines special episode: Interview with singer/songwriter Bruce Blackman, the musician behind the 1976 hit Moonlight Feels Right, heard right here in Season 4. Bruce shares thoughts about his life, his music and recalls almost freezing his fingers off in Fargo during a tour back in 77. https://bruceblackman.com Check out the full catalog of Dakota Spotlight true crime podcasts at https://dakotaspotlight.com where you can sign up for a newsletter, subscribe to the new and exciting Spotlight PLUS ad-free experience and much more. Head over to https://dakotaspotlight.com to learn more. Advertise your podcast or brand in Dakota Spotlight episodes by sending email to [email protected] Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://facebook.com/groups/dakotaspotlight Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The 1976 murders of Wade and Ellen Zick left Zeeland, North Dakota shaken and desperate for answers. Episode 2, No Banker Tomorrow, continues the investigation with chapters including Party Line, We Think We Found Something, No Banker Tomorrow, and Ellen Thompson. These moments reveal how neighbors, police, and community members pieced together new details about what happened that night. Zeeland is a documentary style true crime series that investigates how a small town murder devastated rural North Dakota and continues to echo as one of the state’s most haunting cold cases. Music by Peter Hicks – performed by Sleepy Driver: ⁠https://sleepydriver.bandcamp.com/⁠ ‘To God be the Glory‘ sung by the Sunday School kids at St Peter’s church, Chaffee, North Dakota Check out the full catalog and everything Dakota Spotlight: https://dakotaspotlight.com/ Get all episodes early, ad-free, and more. Subscribe to Spotlight PLUS: https://dakotaspotlight.com/spotlight-plus/ Sign up for the Dakota Spotlight newsletter: https://dakotaspotlight.com/newsletter/ Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://facebook.com/groups/dakotaspotlight X/Twitter: @dakotaspotlight Instagram: @dakotaspotlight TikTok: @dakotaspotlight Bluesky: @dakotaspotlight.bsky.social YouTube: @dakotaspotlightpodcast4800 Proudly produced by Six Horse Media: [email protected] Advertise your podcast or brand in Dakota Spotlight episodes: [email protected] All content in this podcast, including audio, interviews, and soundscapes, is the property of Six Horse Media. Any unauthorized use, reproduction, or rebroadcast of this material without the express written consent of Six Horse Media is strictly prohibited. For permissions or inquiries, please contact [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this bonus episode of the 2024 rebroadcast of Zeeland, a present-day interview with Peter Hicks. Peter is the singer and songwriter for the band Sleepy Driver. Their amazing music is sprinkled throughout the season. Peter looks back on the collaboration between Dakota Spotlight and Sleepy Driver and shares news about the future, which includes a new album. Check out their music at https://sleepydriver.bandcamp.com Spotlight PLUS subscribers in the Ultimate tier get a free Sleepy Driver album with the music from this season. https://.dakotaspotlight.com/spotlight-plus/ Check out the full catalog of Dakota Spotlight true crime podcasts at https://dakotaspotlight.com where you can sign up for a newsletter, subscribe to the new and exciting Spotlight PLUS ad-free experience and much more. Head over to https://dakotaspotlight.com to learn more. Advertise your podcast or brand in Dakota Spotlight episodes by sending email to [email protected] Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://facebook.com/groups/dakotaspotlight Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On July 11, 1976, Wade and Ellen Zick were murdered in their home in Zeeland, North Dakota, leaving the small town reeling. Episode 1, A Deed Without a Name, begins the investigation into this shocking crime. Chapters include Sunday Morning Sidewalks, Unmade Beds, and Search Party, recounting the first clues that emerged after the murders. Through eyewitness accounts, law enforcement records, and interviews with community members, Zeeland examines a true crime story that continues to haunt rural North Dakota. Music by Peter Hicks – performed by Sleepy Driver: ⁠https://sleepydriver.bandcamp.com/⁠ ‘To God be the Glory‘ sung by the Sunday School kids at St Peter’s church, Chaffee, North Dakota Check out the full catalog and everything Dakota Spotlight: https://dakotaspotlight.com/ Get all episodes early, ad-free, and more. Subscribe to Spotlight PLUS: https://dakotaspotlight.com/spotlight-plus/ Sign up for the Dakota Spotlight newsletter: https://dakotaspotlight.com/newsletter/ Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://facebook.com/groups/dakotaspotlight X/Twitter: @dakotaspotlight Instagram: @dakotaspotlight TikTok: @dakotaspotlight Bluesky: @dakotaspotlight.bsky.social YouTube: @dakotaspotlightpodcast4800 Proudly produced by Six Horse Media: [email protected] Advertise your podcast or brand in Dakota Spotlight episodes: [email protected] All content in this podcast, including audio, interviews, and soundscapes, is the property of Six Horse Media. Any unauthorized use, reproduction, or rebroadcast of this material without the express written consent of Six Horse Media is strictly prohibited. For permissions or inquiries, please contact [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this brief announcement, James explains the leap he is taking in January of 2024. He has returned to producing the show 100% independently, has created The PorchLight Podcast Network, and plans to create brand new shows (not just True Crime). Also announcing Spotlight PLUS, a tier-based subscription offering for fans, loaded with exclusive access and content. Check out the full catalog of Dakota Spotlight true crime podcasts at https://dakotaspotlight.com where you can sign up for a newsletter, subscribe to the new and exciting Spotlight PLUS ad-free experience and much more. Head over to https://dakotaspotlight.com to learn more. The PorchLight Podcast Network https://porchlightpodcast.network Advertise your podcast or brand in Dakota Spotlight episodes by sending email to [email protected] Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://facebook.com/groups/dakotaspotlight Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 9 gives new perspective on the 2019 RJR murders in Mandan, North Dakota, as Chad Isaak’s mother and two of his sisters speak publicly for the first time in four and a half years. Who was Isaak as a child, as a man, and what warning signs did his family see? The episode also asks what Isaak’s actions at RJR reveal about his intended target, while a sheriff’s deputy recalls two encounters with him leading up to the murders. These rare accounts add depth to the story of a convicted killer and the search for justice in North Dakota. Check out the full catalog and everything Dakota Spotlight: https://dakotaspotlight.com/ Get all episodes early, ad-free, and more. Subscribe to Spotlight PLUS: https://dakotaspotlight.com/spotlight-plus/ Sign up for the Dakota Spotlight newsletter: https://dakotaspotlight.com/newsletter/ Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://facebook.com/groups/dakotaspotlight X/Twitter: @dakotaspotlight Instagram: @dakotaspotlight TikTok: @dakotaspotlight Bluesky: @dakotaspotlight.bsky.social YouTube: @dakotaspotlightpodcast4800 Proudly produced by Six Horse Media: [email protected] Advertise your podcast or brand in Dakota Spotlight episodes: [email protected] All content in this podcast, including audio, interviews, and soundscapes, is the property of Six Horse Media. Any unauthorized use, reproduction, or rebroadcast of this material without the express written consent of Six Horse Media is strictly prohibited. For permissions or inquiries, please contact [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 8 of The Mandan Murders provides a preview of upcoming episodes in Season 9 of Dakota Spotlight. Host James Wolner also shares a Thanksgiving greeting with listeners, reflecting on the importance of community, support, and remembrance while investigating the 2019 RJR murders in Mandan, North Dakota. Check out the full catalog and everything Dakota Spotlight: https://dakotaspotlight.com/ Get all episodes early, ad-free, and more. Subscribe to Spotlight PLUS: https://dakotaspotlight.com/spotlight-plus/ Sign up for the Dakota Spotlight newsletter: https://dakotaspotlight.com/newsletter/ Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://facebook.com/groups/dakotaspotlight X/Twitter: @dakotaspotlight Instagram: @dakotaspotlight TikTok: @dakotaspotlight Bluesky: @dakotaspotlight.bsky.social YouTube: @dakotaspotlightpodcast4800 Proudly produced by Six Horse Media: [email protected] Advertise your podcast or brand in Dakota Spotlight episodes: [email protected] All content in this podcast, including audio, interviews, and soundscapes, is the property of Six Horse Media. Any unauthorized use, reproduction, or rebroadcast of this material without the express written consent of Six Horse Media is strictly prohibited. For permissions or inquiries, please contact [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 7 focuses on Adam Fuehrer and Robert Fakler, two of the four victims murdered at RJR Maintenance in Mandan, North Dakota. Adam’s wife, sister, brother-in-law, and stepmother reflect on his life, while Robert Fakler’s wife and daughter share their memories of him as a husband and father. This episode honors their legacies, showing how the RJR murders left families and a community grappling with loss and seeking ways to remember those taken too soon. Check out the full catalog and everything Dakota Spotlight: https://dakotaspotlight.com/ Get all episodes early, ad-free, and more. Subscribe to Spotlight PLUS: https://dakotaspotlight.com/spotlight-plus/ Sign up for the Dakota Spotlight newsletter: https://dakotaspotlight.com/newsletter/ Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://facebook.com/groups/dakotaspotlight X/Twitter: @dakotaspotlight Instagram: @dakotaspotlight TikTok: @dakotaspotlight Bluesky: @dakotaspotlight.bsky.social YouTube: @dakotaspotlightpodcast4800 Proudly produced by Six Horse Media: [email protected] Advertise your podcast or brand in Dakota Spotlight episodes: [email protected] All content in this podcast, including audio, interviews, and soundscapes, is the property of Six Horse Media. Any unauthorized use, reproduction, or rebroadcast of this material without the express written consent of Six Horse Media is strictly prohibited. For permissions or inquiries, please contact [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Who were Bill and Lois Cobb, two of the four people murdered at RJR Maintenance in Mandan, North Dakota? Episode 6 honors their lives through the voices of friends and loved ones who recall their childhoods, personalities, and passions. Bill and Lois’ daughters also share the challenges of coping with the murders and offer advice for others navigating similar grief. This episode shifts the focus from investigation to remembrance, centering the victims whose lives were cut short. Check out the full catalog and everything Dakota Spotlight: https://dakotaspotlight.com/ Get all episodes early, ad-free, and more. Subscribe to Spotlight PLUS: https://dakotaspotlight.com/spotlight-plus/ Sign up for the Dakota Spotlight newsletter: https://dakotaspotlight.com/newsletter/ Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://facebook.com/groups/dakotaspotlight X/Twitter: @dakotaspotlight Instagram: @dakotaspotlight TikTok: @dakotaspotlight Bluesky: @dakotaspotlight.bsky.social YouTube: @dakotaspotlightpodcast4800 Proudly produced by Six Horse Media: [email protected] Advertise your podcast or brand in Dakota Spotlight episodes: [email protected] All content in this podcast, including audio, interviews, and soundscapes, is the property of Six Horse Media. Any unauthorized use, reproduction, or rebroadcast of this material without the express written consent of Six Horse Media is strictly prohibited. For permissions or inquiries, please contact [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 5 takes listeners inside the investigation of the 2019 RJR murders in Mandan, North Dakota, with the full audio from Special Agent Joe Arens’ first interview and interrogation of Chad Isaak. Witnesses also describe Isaak’s odd behavior around the time of the killings, offering chilling insights into the man later convicted of murdering four people at RJR Maintenance. This rare audio-driven episode captures the tension of investigators confronting a suspect while the community reeled from tragedy. Check out the full catalog and everything Dakota Spotlight: https://dakotaspotlight.com/ Get all episodes early, ad-free, and more. Subscribe to Spotlight PLUS: https://dakotaspotlight.com/spotlight-plus/ Sign up for the Dakota Spotlight newsletter: https://dakotaspotlight.com/newsletter/ Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://facebook.com/groups/dakotaspotlight X/Twitter: @dakotaspotlight Instagram: @dakotaspotlight TikTok: @dakotaspotlight Bluesky: @dakotaspotlight.bsky.social YouTube: @dakotaspotlightpodcast4800 Proudly produced by Six Horse Media: [email protected] Advertise your podcast or brand in Dakota Spotlight episodes: [email protected] All content in this podcast, including audio, interviews, and soundscapes, is the property of Six Horse Media. Any unauthorized use, reproduction, or rebroadcast of this material without the express written consent of Six Horse Media is strictly prohibited. For permissions or inquiries, please contact [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A grainy security camera in Center, North Dakota, captured the white Ford F-150 linked to the Mandan murders. Episode 4 recounts how investigators circulated the image statewide until detective Justin Krohmer realized the truck resembled one owned by his chiropractor. This critical lead brought law enforcement closer to the man behind the RJR killings. Check out the full catalog and everything Dakota Spotlight: https://dakotaspotlight.com/ Get all episodes early, ad-free, and more. Subscribe to Spotlight PLUS: https://dakotaspotlight.com/spotlight-plus/ Sign up for the Dakota Spotlight newsletter: https://dakotaspotlight.com/newsletter/ Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://facebook.com/groups/dakotaspotlight X/Twitter: @dakotaspotlight Instagram: @dakotaspotlight TikTok: @dakotaspotlight Bluesky: @dakotaspotlight.bsky.social YouTube: @dakotaspotlightpodcast4800 Proudly produced by Six Horse Media: [email protected] Advertise your podcast or brand in Dakota Spotlight episodes: [email protected] All content in this podcast, including audio, interviews, and soundscapes, is the property of Six Horse Media. Any unauthorized use, reproduction, or rebroadcast of this material without the express written consent of Six Horse Media is strictly prohibited. For permissions or inquiries, please contact [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

To catch the masked man in orange who carried out the RJR murders, investigators turned to surveillance video across North Dakota. Episode 3 follows law enforcement as they piece together the killer’s movements from local businesses, only to have the trail suddenly go cold. This episode also remembers victim Adam Fuehrer, adding humanity to a case defined by chilling evidence. Check out the full catalog and everything Dakota Spotlight: https://dakotaspotlight.com/ Get all episodes early, ad-free, and more. Subscribe to Spotlight PLUS: https://dakotaspotlight.com/spotlight-plus/ Sign up for the Dakota Spotlight newsletter: https://dakotaspotlight.com/newsletter/ Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://facebook.com/groups/dakotaspotlight X/Twitter: @dakotaspotlight Instagram: @dakotaspotlight TikTok: @dakotaspotlight Bluesky: @dakotaspotlight.bsky.social YouTube: @dakotaspotlightpodcast4800 Proudly produced by Six Horse Media: [email protected] Advertise your podcast or brand in Dakota Spotlight episodes: [email protected] All content in this podcast, including audio, interviews, and soundscapes, is the property of Six Horse Media. Any unauthorized use, reproduction, or rebroadcast of this material without the express written consent of Six Horse Media is strictly prohibited. For permissions or inquiries, please contact [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The morning of April 1, 2019, unfolded in chaos as the bodies of four RJR Maintenance employees were discovered in Mandan, North Dakota. Episode 2 takes listeners minute by minute through Bockheim’s discovery, the 911 call, and the arrival of first responders. Host James Wolner interviews paramedics, law enforcement, and grieving families, capturing the shock of a community devastated by violence. Check out the full catalog and everything Dakota Spotlight: https://dakotaspotlight.com/ Get all episodes early, ad-free, and more. Subscribe to Spotlight PLUS: https://dakotaspotlight.com/spotlight-plus/ Sign up for the Dakota Spotlight newsletter: https://dakotaspotlight.com/newsletter/ Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://facebook.com/groups/dakotaspotlight X/Twitter: @dakotaspotlight Instagram: @dakotaspotlight TikTok: @dakotaspotlight Bluesky: @dakotaspotlight.bsky.social YouTube: @dakotaspotlightpodcast4800 Proudly produced by Six Horse Media: [email protected] Advertise your podcast or brand in Dakota Spotlight episodes: [email protected] All content in this podcast, including audio, interviews, and soundscapes, is the property of Six Horse Media. Any unauthorized use, reproduction, or rebroadcast of this material without the express written consent of Six Horse Media is strictly prohibited. For permissions or inquiries, please contact [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On April 1, 2019, four people were killed inside RJR Maintenance and Management in Mandan, North Dakota. Episode 1 recalls the shocking discovery of Robert Fakler, William Cobb, Lois Cobb, and Adam Fuehrer, and host James Wolner shares his perspective from attending the first police press conference that morning. This episode marks Wolner’s first step into true crime podcasting as he begins to re-examine the murders, the investigation, and the search for justice. Check out the full catalog and everything Dakota Spotlight: https://dakotaspotlight.com/ Get all episodes early, ad-free, and more. Subscribe to Spotlight PLUS: https://dakotaspotlight.com/spotlight-plus/ Sign up for the Dakota Spotlight newsletter: https://dakotaspotlight.com/newsletter/ Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://facebook.com/groups/dakotaspotlight X/Twitter: @dakotaspotlight Instagram: @dakotaspotlight TikTok: @dakotaspotlight Bluesky: @dakotaspotlight.bsky.social YouTube: @dakotaspotlightpodcast4800 Proudly produced by Six Horse Media: [email protected] Advertise your podcast or brand in Dakota Spotlight episodes: [email protected] All content in this podcast, including audio, interviews, and soundscapes, is the property of Six Horse Media. Any unauthorized use, reproduction, or rebroadcast of this material without the express written consent of Six Horse Media is strictly prohibited. For permissions or inquiries, please contact [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A short announcement and teaser about season 9 starting October 4, 2023. Homepage - https://inforum.com/dakotaspotlight Check out The Vault - https://inforum.com/news/the-vault Email - [email protected] Facebook - facebook.com/groups/dakotaspotlight Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I'm still between Dakota Spotlight seasons, so today I am rebroadcasting for you one of my earliest pieces of audio work - an episode of a show I created to basically learn how to podcast in the first place - before Dakota Spotlight even existed. In fact, what follows was only the 5th podcast episode I ever put together – back when I was still figuring out how to work a microphone. This is not a true-crime story, and if you are an avid fan of Dakota Spotlight, you may have heard this once before between seasons one and two. But I'm gonna share it again now with a couple of updates. Why? Well, let me tell you. This story just feels relevant in a way and a much needed reminder in 2023. It's something I believe we can all relate to and be inspired by – and despite all the podcast content I've created since then, this story remains one of my favorites. It's a story about something we all have within us, something we have all felt at times, something you may have been considering as recently as this morning, as you lay in bed studying the ceiling above you. It's about remaining true to ourselves and our pursuit of our personal dreams in life – not the things others want us to achieve or accomplish, not what others believe we are capable of (or what they tell us we are incapable of) but rather those dreams and aspirations you feel burning deep down in your marrow or in your heart; the things we want to achieve or accomplish or maybe just what we want to stand for as a human being. In this case it's an inspiring story about how one determined 17-year-old farm kid made up his mind to defy the odds in 1976 and 1977. He set a goal that many assumed was unattainable. But, his irresistible humble spirit won over the initial naysayers and then rallied an army of followers – first his friends, then his tiny community on the prairie and finally the whole state of North Dakota. His name was Don Allard and in 1976 and 1977, he was a senior at the smallest high school in the state of North Dakota, Epping High with just 23 students. 23 farm-kids that nobody had ever heard of, in a town with no paved streets. And what was his goal? Don Allard was a basketball player, and somehow, this young man first envisioned and then set into motion the act leading his team, the Epping Eagles, to the finals of the coveted Class B State Basketball Tournament in 1977. In the end – in the final game of that tournament – Don Allard and his Epping Eagles lost to the largest high school in the state. But, with a similar spirit of Rocky Balboa, the hero of that year's best-picture at the Oscars, the Epping Eagles, with their mild-mannered and hard-working pursuit won the hearts of people everywhere. The legend of this Cinderella team and of their run at the state title remains perhaps the most memorable game in all of North Dakota's highschool sports history. It was a different time. It was a time before shot clocks and three point lines. It was before schools started consolidating teams across two or more schools to build bigger and better squads. It's safe to say, something exactly like this won't happen again in North Dakota. Don Allard had passed away in 2015 at age of 56 – before I recorded the following story. Interviews with Bob Allard Al and Linda Allard Clyde Vinger Mike Vinger Dale Keever Jay Bingeman Tommy Breivik Coach Larry Overbo. More info on the 1977 Epping Eagles at Informum.com email - James at [email protected]: facebook.com/groups/dakotaspotlight Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's summer 2023. Finally! Dakota Spotlight is in between seasons and in research mode. Meanwhile here is a story by Trisha Taurinskas at The Vault. Check out The Vault podcast email - James at [email protected]: facebook.com/groups/dakotaspotlight Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 7, 15 Years Later, reflects on the unresolved 2007 murder of Joel Lovelien outside the Broken Drum Bar in Grand Forks, North Dakota. Host James Wolner interviews Travis Stay’s defense attorney, Peter Wold, and speaks with Heather (Holter) Keena, who was on the party bus that night and later married Jon “The Clown.” Sgt. Suby of the Grand Forks Police Department also shares the current status of the case. Do you have information about Joel Lovelien’s murder? Submit a tip through the tip411 app (anonymous tips allowed) or call the Grand Forks Police Department non-emergency line at (701) 787-8000. If new developments emerge, Dakota Spotlight will return with updates. Intro and outro music by HandTurner (https://handturner.bandcamp.com) and Wowza in Kalamazoo (https://wowzainkalamazoo.bandcamp.com/). Check out the full catalog and everything Dakota Spotlight: https://dakotaspotlight.com/ Get all episodes early, ad-free, and more. Subscribe to Spotlight PLUS: https://dakotaspotlight.com/spotlight-plus/ Sign up for the Dakota Spotlight newsletter: https://dakotaspotlight.com/newsletter/ Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://facebook.com/groups/dakotaspotlight X/Twitter: @dakotaspotlight Instagram: @dakotaspotlight TikTok: @dakotaspotlight Bluesky: @dakotaspotlight.bsky.social YouTube: @dakotaspotlightpodcast4800 Proudly produced by Six Horse Media: [email protected] Advertise your podcast or brand in Dakota Spotlight episodes: [email protected] All content in this podcast, including audio, interviews, and soundscapes, is the property of Six Horse Media. Any unauthorized use, reproduction, or rebroadcast of this material without the express written consent of Six Horse Media is strictly prohibited. For permissions or inquiries, please contact [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 6, Travis on Trial, takes a close look at the 2008 trial of Travis Stay, who was accused of murdering Joel Lovelien outside the Broken Drum Bar in Grand Forks, North Dakota. After 14 days of testimony, Stay was found not guilty. Host James Wolner speaks with Archie Ingersoll, the reporter who covered the trial, and Nancy Yon, the lead prosecutor, to explore how the case was presented in court and why the jury reached its decision. This episode unpacks the pivotal courtroom moments of an unresolved North Dakota homicide. Intro and outro music by HandTurner (https://handturner.bandcamp.com) and Wowza in Kalamazoo (https://wowzainkalamazoo.bandcamp.com/). Check out the full catalog and everything Dakota Spotlight: https://dakotaspotlight.com/ Get all episodes early, ad-free, and more. Subscribe to Spotlight PLUS: https://dakotaspotlight.com/spotlight-plus/ Sign up for the Dakota Spotlight newsletter: https://dakotaspotlight.com/newsletter/ Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://facebook.com/groups/dakotaspotlight X/Twitter: @dakotaspotlight Instagram: @dakotaspotlight TikTok: @dakotaspotlight Bluesky: @dakotaspotlight.bsky.social YouTube: @dakotaspotlightpodcast4800 Proudly produced by Six Horse Media: [email protected] Advertise your podcast or brand in Dakota Spotlight episodes: [email protected] All content in this podcast, including audio, interviews, and soundscapes, is the property of Six Horse Media. Any unauthorized use, reproduction, or rebroadcast of this material without the express written consent of Six Horse Media is strictly prohibited. For permissions or inquiries, please contact [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 5, The Evidence Against Travis Stay, examines what investigators and prosecutors believed tied Travis Stay to the 2007 murder of Joel Lovelien outside the Broken Drum Bar in Grand Forks, North Dakota. Through interviews with detectives and the legal team, host James Wolner asks: What was the evidence against Stay, and why did a jury later acquit him? This episode unpacks the state’s case, the trial, and the unresolved questions that linger more than a decade later. Intro and outro music by HandTurner (https://handturner.bandcamp.com) and Wowza in Kalamazoo (https://wowzainkalamazoo.bandcamp.com/). Check out the full catalog and everything Dakota Spotlight: https://dakotaspotlight.com/ Get all episodes early, ad-free, and more. Subscribe to Spotlight PLUS: https://dakotaspotlight.com/spotlight-plus/ Sign up for the Dakota Spotlight newsletter: https://dakotaspotlight.com/newsletter/ Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://facebook.com/groups/dakotaspotlight X/Twitter: @dakotaspotlight Instagram: @dakotaspotlight TikTok: @dakotaspotlight Bluesky: @dakotaspotlight.bsky.social YouTube: @dakotaspotlightpodcast4800 Proudly produced by Six Horse Media: [email protected] Advertise your podcast or brand in Dakota Spotlight episodes: [email protected] All content in this podcast, including audio, interviews, and soundscapes, is the property of Six Horse Media. Any unauthorized use, reproduction, or rebroadcast of this material without the express written consent of Six Horse Media is strictly prohibited. For permissions or inquiries, please contact [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 4, A Portrait of Joel, steps away from the investigation to focus on the man at the center of this story: Joel Lovelien. Family and friends recall his humor, generosity, and the way he brought smiles to everyone who knew him. Their stories paint a vivid picture of Joel’s life, ensuring he is remembered not just as a victim of a 2007 Grand Forks homicide, but as a beloved son, partner, and friend whose presence continues to inspire those left behind. Intro and outro music by HandTurner (https://handturner.bandcamp.com) and Wowza in Kalamazoo (https://wowzainkalamazoo.bandcamp.com/). Check out the full catalog and everything Dakota Spotlight: https://dakotaspotlight.com/ Get all episodes early, ad-free, and more. Subscribe to Spotlight PLUS: https://dakotaspotlight.com/spotlight-plus/ Sign up for the Dakota Spotlight newsletter: https://dakotaspotlight.com/newsletter/ Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://facebook.com/groups/dakotaspotlight X/Twitter: @dakotaspotlight Instagram: @dakotaspotlight TikTok: @dakotaspotlight Bluesky: @dakotaspotlight.bsky.social YouTube: @dakotaspotlightpodcast4800 Proudly produced by Six Horse Media: [email protected] Advertise your podcast or brand in Dakota Spotlight episodes: [email protected] All content in this podcast, including audio, interviews, and soundscapes, is the property of Six Horse Media. Any unauthorized use, reproduction, or rebroadcast of this material without the express written consent of Six Horse Media is strictly prohibited. For permissions or inquiries, please contact [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hey Everyone, I'm working hard on the next episode of Season 8, Unresolved, the murder of Joel Lovelien. Meanwhile, here is part 3 of my colleauge Trisha Taurinska's investigation into the death of Refugio Rodriguez in Montevideo, Minnesota. https://www.inforum.com/news/the-vault/national-expert-weighs-in-on-refugio-rodriguezs-death-investigation-as-new-image-of-body-surfaces Episode 4 of Dakota Spotlight Season 8 will be out on Wed. March 22, 2023 email me at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 3, Travis Stay, the Man in Yellow, examines the movements and actions of Travis Stay and his friends during the weekend of Joel Lovelien’s murder in Grand Forks, North Dakota. Stay, who was seen in a lion costume that night, became the central suspect in the case and was later tried for Joel’s murder. In December 2008, a jury found him not guilty. This episode traces his timeline, explores the events leading up to the killing, and revisits the question of what really happened outside the Broken Drum Bar. Intro and outro music by HandTurner (https://handturner.bandcamp.com) and Wowza in Kalamazoo (https://wowzainkalamazoo.bandcamp.com/). Check out the full catalog and everything Dakota Spotlight: https://dakotaspotlight.com/ Get all episodes early, ad-free, and more. Subscribe to Spotlight PLUS: https://dakotaspotlight.com/spotlight-plus/ Sign up for the Dakota Spotlight newsletter: https://dakotaspotlight.com/newsletter/ Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://facebook.com/groups/dakotaspotlight X/Twitter: @dakotaspotlight Instagram: @dakotaspotlight TikTok: @dakotaspotlight Bluesky: @dakotaspotlight.bsky.social YouTube: @dakotaspotlightpodcast4800 Proudly produced by Six Horse Media: [email protected] Advertise your podcast or brand in Dakota Spotlight episodes: [email protected] All content in this podcast, including audio, interviews, and soundscapes, is the property of Six Horse Media. Any unauthorized use, reproduction, or rebroadcast of this material without the express written consent of Six Horse Media is strictly prohibited. For permissions or inquiries, please contact [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This is not a full episode, but rather just a quick little update and request for some assistance. Also a quick chat with Wowza in Kalamazoo. Today is March 13th, 2023 and episode 3 of Season 8 will be out in two days–that's season 8, Unresolved the Murder of Joel Lovelien. Which brings me to my request. I'm looking for any of you who were friends with Joel Lovelien, maybe you worked with him at Altru hospital or maybe you went to school with him. I'd like to gather a few more memories of him for the podcast. If you can help me learn more about Joel Lovelien, who he was, what he was like, please send me an email at [email protected] I'd really appreciate it. Also, don't miss Wowza in Kalamazoo are going to be playing live in Bismarck, on Saturday, May 13th. You've heard their music a lot on this podcast, including the theme songs for season 5 about missing Barbara Cotton and season 7 about missing Michele Julson. I'm going to be there to see Wowza play live at The Laughing Sun Brewery in Bismarck on Saturday May 13th. Songs in this episode: Crown Shy and Magdelena. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the second episode of Unresolved, The Murder of Joel Lovelien, investigators begin piecing together the first hours after Joel was found beaten outside the Broken Drum Bar in Grand Forks, North Dakota. Episode 2, The Clown, the Cowboy, and the Hunter, unpacks the chaos of witness statements and the many reasons the investigation got off to a confusing start. With costumed figures swirling around the crime scene, detectives struggled to separate fact from distraction in this unresolved North Dakota homicide. Intro and outro music by HandTurner (https://handturner.bandcamp.com) and Wowza in Kalamazoo (https://wowzainkalamazoo.bandcamp.com/). Check out the full catalog and everything Dakota Spotlight: https://dakotaspotlight.com/ Get all episodes early, ad-free, and more. Subscribe to Spotlight PLUS: https://dakotaspotlight.com/spotlight-plus/ Sign up for the Dakota Spotlight newsletter: https://dakotaspotlight.com/newsletter/ Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://facebook.com/groups/dakotaspotlight X/Twitter: @dakotaspotlight Instagram: @dakotaspotlight TikTok: @dakotaspotlight Bluesky: @dakotaspotlight.bsky.social YouTube: @dakotaspotlightpodcast4800 Proudly produced by Six Horse Media: [email protected] Advertise your podcast or brand in Dakota Spotlight episodes: [email protected] All content in this podcast, including audio, interviews, and soundscapes, is the property of Six Horse Media. Any unauthorized use, reproduction, or rebroadcast of this material without the express written consent of Six Horse Media is strictly prohibited. For permissions or inquiries, please contact [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On October 27, 2007, Joel Lovelien was beaten to death outside the Broken Drum Bar in Grand Forks, North Dakota, during a night of Halloween costumes and heavy drinking. Episode 1, Halloween at The Broken Drum, revisits that chaotic night, when Joel was discovered unconscious in the parking lot and later died despite fast medical response. This episode begins Dakota Spotlight’s reexamination of the unsolved homicide, raising the enduring question: Who killed Joel Lovelien? Intro and outro music by HandTurner (https://handturner.bandcamp.com) and Wowza in Kalamazoo (https://wowzainkalamazoo.bandcamp.com/). Check out the full catalog and everything Dakota Spotlight: https://dakotaspotlight.com/ Get all episodes early, ad-free, and more. Subscribe to Spotlight PLUS: https://dakotaspotlight.com/spotlight-plus/ Sign up for the Dakota Spotlight newsletter: https://dakotaspotlight.com/newsletter/ Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://facebook.com/groups/dakotaspotlight X/Twitter: @dakotaspotlight Instagram: @dakotaspotlight TikTok: @dakotaspotlight Bluesky: @dakotaspotlight.bsky.social YouTube: @dakotaspotlightpodcast4800 Proudly produced by Six Horse Media: [email protected] Advertise your podcast or brand in Dakota Spotlight episodes: [email protected] All content in this podcast, including audio, interviews, and soundscapes, is the property of Six Horse Media. Any unauthorized use, reproduction, or rebroadcast of this material without the express written consent of Six Horse Media is strictly prohibited. For permissions or inquiries, please contact [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A sneak peak at Season 8 coming March 1st and titled Unresolved - The Murder of Joel Lovelien. Also part 2 of Trisha Taurinska's investigation into the death of Refugio Rodriguez in Montevideo, Minnesota. https://www.inforum.com/news/the-vault/investigator-into-refugio-rodriguezs-death-had-other-case-thrown-out-due-to-bad-police-work See a video trailer of season 8: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wbrHX48Xkw To contact me: email [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hello Dakota Spotlight followers: I have a bit of a holiday treat for you today, which I am very excited to share with you. A few weeks ago, I traveled to the town of Montevideo, Minnesota. I was there to take part in a meeting with three of my colleagues to plan and discuss work for The Vault - which is Forum Communication’s online catalog of great stories about Midwest history, mysteries and, of course, true crime. Why did we convene in Montevideo, Minnesota? Montevideo was purely a logistical destination as we all live in different places; 3 of us drove to Montevideo where a 4th colleague lives. Her name is Trisha Taurinskas. Over coffee we asked Trisha if there were any local stories that she had considered for The Vault. It turns out there was one story that Trisha had on her mind–in fact, to me, it seemed to be stuck in her mind. I could tell right then and there, this story was not gonna to just go away for her—she was in the early phases of experiencing a nagging feeling that I know very well myself–I would describe it as an almost uncomfortable sense of ‘calling’ … a somewhat involuntary compulsion to act and go look for and find answers–all in the name of justice and the truth. And that’s exactly what she did–exactly what she is currently in the middle of doing... Fast forward a few months and now my holiday treat for you then, coming up right here, right now, is the full first episode of Trisha Taurinskas’ reporting on the death of Refugio Rodriquez. A Minnesota man found dead on a walking path – a man who had just told his family his life was in danger after he was outed as a confidential informant for law enforcement. Yet despite the suspicious death, his case was closed, the death ruled a suicide. But as you might imagine, and as Trisha sensed all along, there is a lot more to the story than that. / James Wolner email: [email protected] More Dakota Spotlight https://www.inforum.com/dakotaspotlight Sign up for Dakota Spotlight's newsletter https://www.grandforksherald.com/newsletter (consider signing up for The Vault newsletter too) Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/dakotaspotlight/ The Vault TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@truecrimevault Support Dakota Spotlight - Become a member https://inforum.com/subscribe Staying in touch with your community through local news and information is the gift that keeps giving all year long. Subscribe to inforum.com now and get 50 percent off an annual subscription for you or anyone on your list. Just call 833-248-7801. That’s 833-248-7801. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 10, Follow the Red Dirt Road, asks whether the unusual red dirt on Shelly Julson’s car is a key clue in her 1994 disappearance. By connecting details in her cold case file to this overlooked evidence, host James Wolner questions if investigators missed a lead that could shed light on The Mysterious Disappearance of Michele Julson. Archival audio provided by The State Historical Society of North Dakota https://www.history.nd.gov/ Music by Wowza in Kalamazoo https://wowzainkalamazoo.bandcamp.com/ Check out the full catalog and everything Dakota Spotlight: https://dakotaspotlight.com/ Get all episodes early, ad-free, and more. Subscribe to Spotlight PLUS: https://dakotaspotlight.com/spotlight-plus/ Sign up for the Dakota Spotlight newsletter: https://dakotaspotlight.com/newsletter/ Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://facebook.com/groups/dakotaspotlight X/Twitter: @dakotaspotlight Instagram: @dakotaspotlight TikTok: @dakotaspotlight Bluesky: @dakotaspotlight.bsky.social YouTube: @dakotaspotlightpodcast4800 Proudly produced by Six Horse Media: [email protected] Advertise your podcast or brand in Dakota Spotlight episodes: [email protected] All content in this podcast, including audio, interviews, and soundscapes, is the property of Six Horse Media. Any unauthorized use, reproduction, or rebroadcast of this material without the express written consent of Six Horse Media is strictly prohibited. For permissions or inquiries, please contact [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 9, Frightened, Followed, Harassed, digs into the harassment Shelly Julson faced before her disappearance in 1994 Bismarck. She reported being followed, receiving hang-up calls, and named Bismarck police officer Donald Schaffer as a harasser. This episode examines Schaffer’s past and addresses listener questions in The Mysterious Disappearance of Michele Julson. Archival audio provided by The State Historical Society of North Dakota https://www.history.nd.gov/ Music by Wowza in Kalamazoo https://wowzainkalamazoo.bandcamp.com/ Check out the full catalog and everything Dakota Spotlight: https://dakotaspotlight.com/ Get all episodes early, ad-free, and more. Subscribe to Spotlight PLUS: https://dakotaspotlight.com/spotlight-plus/ Sign up for the Dakota Spotlight newsletter: https://dakotaspotlight.com/newsletter/ Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://facebook.com/groups/dakotaspotlight X/Twitter: @dakotaspotlight Instagram: @dakotaspotlight TikTok: @dakotaspotlight Bluesky: @dakotaspotlight.bsky.social YouTube: @dakotaspotlightpodcast4800 Proudly produced by Six Horse Media: [email protected] Advertise your podcast or brand in Dakota Spotlight episodes: [email protected] All content in this podcast, including audio, interviews, and soundscapes, is the property of Six Horse Media. Any unauthorized use, reproduction, or rebroadcast of this material without the express written consent of Six Horse Media is strictly prohibited. For permissions or inquiries, please contact [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this stand-alone episode we do a follow up interview with Alison Sandy, journalist and producer of the Australian podcast The Lady Vanishes about the fascinating and captivating news being uncovered in the investigation into Marion Barter's disappearance. To date The Lady Vanishes podcast has had 13 million downloads and has helped bring many answers into whatever happened to Marion Barter who vanished after embarking on an international trip in 1997. Was Marion Barter a victim of a con-man with a history of deceiving single women and stealing their money? What happened to Marion Barter? Thanks to The Lady Vanishes podcast the world may soon know. Check out the full catalog of Dakota Spotlight true crime podcasts at https://dakotaspotlight.com where you can sign up for a newsletter, subscribe to the new and exciting Spotlight PLUS ad-free experience and much more. Head over to https://dakotaspotlight.com to learn more. Advertise your podcast or brand in Dakota Spotlight episodes by sending email to [email protected] Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://facebook.com/groups/dakotaspotlight Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 8, A Missing Mother’s Son, introduces Jaden Julson, who grew up without his mother after her disappearance in 1994 Bismarck. He reflects on the impact of loss, the role of his father and grandfather, and how Shelly’s case shaped his life. The episode also debunks a claim made by Bismarck PD investigators, shedding new light on The Mysterious Disappearance of Michele Julson. Archival audio provided by The State Historical Society of North Dakota https://www.history.nd.gov/ Music by Wowza in Kalamazoo https://wowzainkalamazoo.bandcamp.com/ Check out the full catalog and everything Dakota Spotlight: https://dakotaspotlight.com/ Get all episodes early, ad-free, and more. Subscribe to Spotlight PLUS: https://dakotaspotlight.com/spotlight-plus/ Sign up for the Dakota Spotlight newsletter: https://dakotaspotlight.com/newsletter/ Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://facebook.com/groups/dakotaspotlight X/Twitter: @dakotaspotlight Instagram: @dakotaspotlight TikTok: @dakotaspotlight Bluesky: @dakotaspotlight.bsky.social YouTube: @dakotaspotlightpodcast4800 Proudly produced by Six Horse Media: [email protected] Advertise your podcast or brand in Dakota Spotlight episodes: [email protected] All content in this podcast, including audio, interviews, and soundscapes, is the property of Six Horse Media. Any unauthorized use, reproduction, or rebroadcast of this material without the express written consent of Six Horse Media is strictly prohibited. For permissions or inquiries, please contact [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 7, Interview with Tony, centers on Tony Hulm, Shelly Julson’s boyfriend and Burnt Creek Club bartender. He recalls their turbulent relationship, the harassment Shelly reported, and considers whether she may have left to start a new life. His voice adds complexity to The Mysterious Disappearance of Michele Julson. Archival audio provided by The State Historical Society of North Dakota https://www.history.nd.gov/ Music by Wowza in Kalamazoo https://wowzainkalamazoo.bandcamp.com/ Check out the full catalog and everything Dakota Spotlight: https://dakotaspotlight.com/ Get all episodes early, ad-free, and more. Subscribe to Spotlight PLUS: https://dakotaspotlight.com/spotlight-plus/ Sign up for the Dakota Spotlight newsletter: https://dakotaspotlight.com/newsletter/ Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://facebook.com/groups/dakotaspotlight X/Twitter: @dakotaspotlight Instagram: @dakotaspotlight TikTok: @dakotaspotlight Bluesky: @dakotaspotlight.bsky.social YouTube: @dakotaspotlightpodcast4800 Proudly produced by Six Horse Media: [email protected] Advertise your podcast or brand in Dakota Spotlight episodes: [email protected] All content in this podcast, including audio, interviews, and soundscapes, is the property of Six Horse Media. Any unauthorized use, reproduction, or rebroadcast of this material without the express written consent of Six Horse Media is strictly prohibited. For permissions or inquiries, please contact [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 6, Vacation Update, shares a season break during The Mysterious Disappearance of Michele Julson. Listeners hear a preview of an interview with Tony Hulm, Shelly’s on-again, off-again boyfriend, and the full theme song Magelena by Wowza in Kalamazoo. Archival audio provided by The State Historical Society of North Dakota https://www.history.nd.gov/ Music by Wowza in Kalamazoo https://wowzainkalamazoo.bandcamp.com/ Check out the full catalog and everything Dakota Spotlight: https://dakotaspotlight.com/ Get all episodes early, ad-free, and more. Subscribe to Spotlight PLUS: https://dakotaspotlight.com/spotlight-plus/ Sign up for the Dakota Spotlight newsletter: https://dakotaspotlight.com/newsletter/ Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://facebook.com/groups/dakotaspotlight X/Twitter: @dakotaspotlight Instagram: @dakotaspotlight TikTok: @dakotaspotlight Bluesky: @dakotaspotlight.bsky.social YouTube: @dakotaspotlightpodcast4800 Proudly produced by Six Horse Media: [email protected] Advertise your podcast or brand in Dakota Spotlight episodes: [email protected] All content in this podcast, including audio, interviews, and soundscapes, is the property of Six Horse Media. Any unauthorized use, reproduction, or rebroadcast of this material without the express written consent of Six Horse Media is strictly prohibited. For permissions or inquiries, please contact [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Family and investigation collide in Episode 5, Don’t Give Up. Shelly Julson’s parents, Wes and Linda, share their memories, while retired officer Rob Carvell recalls responding to the 1994 missing person report and reopening the case in 2016. A close friend and the “forty-year-old guy” Shelly planned to go camping with also add insight into The Mysterious Disappearance of Michele Julson. Archival audio provided by The State Historical Society of North Dakota https://www.history.nd.gov/ Music by Wowza in Kalamazoo https://wowzainkalamazoo.bandcamp.com/ Check out the full catalog and everything Dakota Spotlight: https://dakotaspotlight.com/ Get all episodes early, ad-free, and more. Subscribe to Spotlight PLUS: https://dakotaspotlight.com/spotlight-plus/ Sign up for the Dakota Spotlight newsletter: https://dakotaspotlight.com/newsletter/ Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://facebook.com/groups/dakotaspotlight X/Twitter: @dakotaspotlight Instagram: @dakotaspotlight TikTok: @dakotaspotlight Bluesky: @dakotaspotlight.bsky.social YouTube: @dakotaspotlightpodcast4800 Proudly produced by Six Horse Media: [email protected] Advertise your podcast or brand in Dakota Spotlight episodes: [email protected] All content in this podcast, including audio, interviews, and soundscapes, is the property of Six Horse Media. Any unauthorized use, reproduction, or rebroadcast of this material without the express written consent of Six Horse Media is strictly prohibited. For permissions or inquiries, please contact [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Retired Bismarck detective Bill Connor, who worked Shelly Julson’s case from 2005–2010, revisits The Mysterious Disappearance of Michele Julson. Episode 4, Stones Unturned, highlights the We Fest sighting, the discovery of Shelly’s car at the Comfort Inn, and suspects Rick Snell, Tony Hulm, and Kevin Woodworth. With archival audio from the State Historical Society of North Dakota, this episode connects past investigative threads in a decades-old mystery. Archival audio provided by The State Historical Society of North Dakota https://www.history.nd.gov/ Music by Wowza in Kalamazoo https://wowzainkalamazoo.bandcamp.com/ Check out the full catalog and everything Dakota Spotlight: https://dakotaspotlight.com/ Get all episodes early, ad-free, and more. Subscribe to Spotlight PLUS: https://dakotaspotlight.com/spotlight-plus/ Sign up for the Dakota Spotlight newsletter: https://dakotaspotlight.com/newsletter/ Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://facebook.com/groups/dakotaspotlight X/Twitter: @dakotaspotlight Instagram: @dakotaspotlight TikTok: @dakotaspotlight Bluesky: @dakotaspotlight.bsky.social YouTube: @dakotaspotlightpodcast4800 Proudly produced by Six Horse Media: [email protected] Advertise your podcast or brand in Dakota Spotlight episodes: [email protected] All content in this podcast, including audio, interviews, and soundscapes, is the property of Six Horse Media. Any unauthorized use, reproduction, or rebroadcast of this material without the express written consent of Six Horse Media is strictly prohibited. For permissions or inquiries, please contact [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rumors and leads clouded the case of Shelly Julson after she disappeared in 1994. Episode 3, Eeny, Meeny, Miny, Moe, asks: Was Shelly partying with railroad workers at the Comfort Inn? Why did another Burnt Creek Bar patron vanish? And what was she really doing on the Sunday night before she disappeared? This episode highlights the rabbit holes investigators fell into while pursuing The Mysterious Disappearance of Michele Julson. Archival audio provided by The State Historical Society of North Dakota https://www.history.nd.gov/ Music by Wowza in Kalamazoo https://wowzainkalamazoo.bandcamp.com/ Check out the full catalog and everything Dakota Spotlight: https://dakotaspotlight.com/ Get all episodes early, ad-free, and more. Subscribe to Spotlight PLUS: https://dakotaspotlight.com/spotlight-plus/ Sign up for the Dakota Spotlight newsletter: https://dakotaspotlight.com/newsletter/ Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://facebook.com/groups/dakotaspotlight X/Twitter: @dakotaspotlight Instagram: @dakotaspotlight TikTok: @dakotaspotlight Bluesky: @dakotaspotlight.bsky.social YouTube: @dakotaspotlightpodcast4800 Proudly produced by Six Horse Media: [email protected] Advertise your podcast or brand in Dakota Spotlight episodes: [email protected] All content in this podcast, including audio, interviews, and soundscapes, is the property of Six Horse Media. Any unauthorized use, reproduction, or rebroadcast of this material without the express written consent of Six Horse Media is strictly prohibited. For permissions or inquiries, please contact [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Officer Cliff Emmert searched Shelly Julson’s world of bingo halls, bowling alleys, and bars after her 1994 disappearance in Bismarck, North Dakota. Episode 2, In Shelly’s Shadows, uncovers disturbing reports that she was being harassed and followed, possibly by multiple men — including a Bismarck police officer. This episode deepens the questions surrounding The Mysterious Disappearance of Michele Julson. Archival audio provided by The State Historical Society of North Dakota https://www.history.nd.gov/ Music by Wowza in Kalamazoo https://wowzainkalamazoo.bandcamp.com/ Check out the full catalog and everything Dakota Spotlight: https://dakotaspotlight.com/ Get all episodes early, ad-free, and more. Subscribe to Spotlight PLUS: https://dakotaspotlight.com/spotlight-plus/ Sign up for the Dakota Spotlight newsletter: https://dakotaspotlight.com/newsletter/ Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://facebook.com/groups/dakotaspotlight X/Twitter: @dakotaspotlight Instagram: @dakotaspotlight TikTok: @dakotaspotlight Bluesky: @dakotaspotlight.bsky.social YouTube: @dakotaspotlightpodcast4800 Proudly produced by Six Horse Media: [email protected] Advertise your podcast or brand in Dakota Spotlight episodes: [email protected] All content in this podcast, including audio, interviews, and soundscapes, is the property of Six Horse Media. Any unauthorized use, reproduction, or rebroadcast of this material without the express written consent of Six Horse Media is strictly prohibited. For permissions or inquiries, please contact [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices