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Friday, May 2, 2008
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Effort is made to thaw cold 2001 murder case
Staff Writer PINE RIVER - The seven-year investigation into the abduction and murder of rural Pequot Lakes resident Rachel Anthony is getting a fresh perspective and, law enforcement hopes, a path to resolution.
Anthony disappeared from her place of work, Ultimate Liquors in Pine River, the night of Feb. 27, 2001. Her body was found six weeks later in Breezy Point. She had been strangled.
Now investigators are hoping to turn the cold case into a hot lead.
On Thursday it was announced that the nonprofit Spotlight on Crime was offering a reward of up to $50,000 for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for Anthony's abduction and murder.
Dave Bjerga, assistant superintendent of the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, said during a news conference Thursday at Pine River City Hall that it was hoped that the reward would bring new witnesses forward in the case. Billboards advertising the case and reward were put up along Highway 371 in Pine River and another is planned in Backus.
In addition to the reward, Bjerga said BCA investigators plan to go over all of the evidence in the case and conduct tests using equipment that wasn't available in 2001.
"Like any investigator you don't want to leave it unsolved out there, so here we are today, seven years later," said Bjerga, who was the lead BCA investigator in Anthony's disappearance in 2001. "With what we're trying to accomplish today, we hope it brings us to a resolution in the case. We're fairly optimistic we're going to have some positive results from that.
Bjerga said that, based on the evidence recovered in 2001, it is likely someone from the Pine River area is responsible for the crime. He said investigators have tracked down everyone who made a purchase at Ultimate Liquors the night Anthony disappeared, except the individual who made the last purchase - a 40-ounce bottle of Mickey's Malt Liquor and a pack of Kool cigarettes.
Investigators want to locate that person, who could be significant in the case, Bjerga said.
Spotlight on Crime offers reward
Spotlight on Crime is offering a reward of up to $50,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the abduction and murder of Rachel Ann Anthony.
Anthony went missing from her place of work, Ultimate Liquors in Pine River, on Feb. 27, 2001. Her body was found six weeks later in Breezy Point.
Anyone with information about Anthony's abduction or murder is asked to call the Cass County Sheriff's Department at (218) 547-1424 or (800) 450-2677 or the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension Cold Case Unit at (651) 793-7000.
Spotlight on Crime is a nonprofit organization funded by Minnesota businesses with the BCA, Department of Public Safety and local law enforcement agencies. It has highlighted 22 cases to date, including the murder of Erika Dalquist in 2002.
For more information, visit www.spotlightoncrime.org.
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"We feel that that person either saw another individual or individuals enter the store or out back or that person was the perpetrator," he said.
Bjerga also had strong words for the person who committed the crime, saying the perpetrator didn't just kill a liquor store employee but a woman who had a family, had her own interests and was well-liked in the community.
He said cases likes Anthony's may grow cold but law enforcement never forget about them.
"Whoever did this ... (has) to understand they opened a door that can't be shut," Bjerga said. "This community doesn't deserve what happened, and the family doesn't deserve what happened. Whoever brought this upon themselves, we hope, will finally pay for it. That's what we're here for today."
Cass County Sheriff Randy Fisher said people should call law enforcement about any information, regardless of if it seems trivial.
"Perhaps it's just the one phone call, the one additional piece of information that will result in this being brought to a successful conclusion and allow the family to have some closure," Fisher said.
Also speaking Thursday were Pine River Police Chief Josh Ebert, Breezy Point Police Chief Steve Rudek and Crow Wing County Sheriff Todd Dahl. Cass County Attorney Christopher Strandlie and Crow Wing County Attorney Don Ryan also were on hand.
Members of Anthony's family also were present at Thursday's news conference but did not speak. Instead, Fisher read a prepared statement from the family thanking law enforcement and Spotlight on Crime for not letting the community forget about Anthony.
"We lost a mother, daughter, sister and best friend, and not a day goes by over the past seven years when she hasn't been thought about and missed dearly," the statement said. "She missed the birth of twin granddaughters, the excitement of first days of school for her grandchildren and all the things that go with the blessings of being a grandparent. We miss her voice and her laugh and her hugs. Reassurances that she was there in spirit did not help much because she should have been there in person.
"Nothing or nobody can replace her, but we keep hoping for justice to be served to whomever took her away from us. Our family needs to find peace, and only finding the person or persons responsible for this tragedy will make that happen. We appreciate the BCA and their effort to keep this case open."
MATT ERICKSON may be reached at matt.erickson@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5857.
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