|
|
Friday, January 5, 2007
|
|
Murder case witness faces murder charge Minneapolis man accused in slaying of rural McGregor woman Staff Writer AITKIN - A witness in a Minneapolis murder investigation faces a murder charge of his own in Aitkin County in connection with the death of a 73-year-old rural McGregor woman.
Jason Lee Quaderer, 21, Minneapolis, was charged Thursday in Aitkin County District Court with felony second-degree murder for the death of Eva Mae Mitchell, an acquaintance. It is believed that Mitchell was murdered sometime in November at Quaderer's father's rural McGregor home, the Aitkin County Sheriff's Department reported.
According to the criminal complaint filed in the case, Quaderer was a witness in the Tuesday murder of his brother, 19-year-old Douglas McFarlane, in Minneapolis.
After being interviewed by Minneapolis police investigators about McFarlane's murder, Quaderer was released. He later returned to the Minneapolis Police Department to tell investigators that he wanted to "disclose something" - that he had beat Mitchell to death sometime around Thanksgiving at his father's residence in Spalding Township in Aitkin County near McGregor.
Minneapolis police investigators Tuesday flew with Quaderer to Aitkin County, where Quaderer led Minneapolis and Aitkin authorities to his father's home near McGregor. Authorities found Mitchell's remains slightly buried by snow about 40 yards into a wooded area on the property.
Aitkin County Sheriff Scott Turner said it wasn't known why Quaderer decided to turn himself in to authorities.
"In dealing with the Minneapolis homicide investigators, the contact he had with them compelled him to come back and get it off his chest," Turner said.
Minneapolis police spokeswoman Lt. Amelia Huffman said at this point investigators don't believe the murders are related. Huffman said no suspects have been identified in McFarlane's murder.
"There's no information that's led us to believe one happened as a result of the other," Huffman said.
Turner noted that Mitchell, who was a friend of Quaderer's father, had not been reported missing. He added that no other arrests are anticipated in connection with Mitchell's murder.
According to the criminal complaint filed against Quaderer:
¥ Quaderer told Aitkin County investigators that he and Mitchell had been drinking at his father's house the night Mitchell was murdered. An argument ensued between Quaderer and Mitchell and Quaderer said he hit Mitchell about 10 times.
¥ When Mitchell put her arms up to protect her head from Quaderer's punches, Quaderer told investigators he began kicking her after she fell to the floor. He also said he believed Mitchell was unconscious at that point and that he kicked her about 15 times.
¥ Quaderer said he stopped kicking Mitchell because she wasn't moving and he thought, "I think I killed her." He then told his father that he had got into a fight with a girl. He then tried to contact an aunt and then a neighbor with no success. He then went to bed.
¥ When he woke the next morning, Quaderer said he noticed blood on his hands and shoes and found Mitchell in the living room. He dragged Mitchell behind his father's house to a spot he could watch in case Mitchell "started to move." When Mitchell didn't move throughout the day, Quaderer said he moved her body farther into the woods. He cleaned blood off the walls of the home but was unable to remove it from the carpet, he said.
The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension assisted the Aitkin County Sheriff's Department in the investigation. Along with finding a woman's body in the woods, investigators also found blood in the living room, furniture and garage of Quaderer's father's house.
An autopsy is scheduled with the Ramsey County medical examiner's office.
Quaderer is being held in the Aitkin County jail on $100,000 bond or $500,000 bail. His next court appearance is scheduled for Feb. 26.
Quaderer has previous convictions for felony third-degree burglary in Hennepin County and felony second-degree assault in Cass County.
MATT ERICKSON can be reached at matt.erickson@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5857.
|
|
|
Thinking about a New Job?
These employers want you!
|
|
Schools has an opening fo...
|
|
not a
9-5 person,
how about
11-2, 4-...
|
|
CASH!!
Independent Carrier need...
|
|
position plans sales trai...
|
|
is hiring for the following
...
|
|
|
|
Bids Being Accepted
call...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Today's Best Classifieds:
|
|
|
|
|
|
Overcast, 61°
