Minnesota Man Charged with Grisly Murder, Kidnapping of Pregnant Woman and Her Children
A Minnesota Amber Alert led to the rescue of a pregnant mom and her four children, with the suspect now facing charges of murder. š #News #CrowWingCountyMN #Minnesota #Crime
CROW WING COUNTY, MN – A chilling series of events in Brainerd, Minnesota, led to the rescue of a pregnant woman and her four children after a harrowing kidnapping at gunpoint. Authorities have now charged Chad Aanerud, 35, with multiple felonies, including murder, sexual assault, arson, and kidnapping, after an incident that triggered a statewide Amber Alert early Friday.
A Terrifying Night Unfolds
The charges, filed in Crow Wing County, outline a violent encounter where Aanerud allegedly shot his neighbor, 62-year-old Lyle Maske, before abducting 33-year-old Nikkole Dobson and her children, ages 3 to 14.
The ordeal began with an argument on the porch of Dobsonās residence, escalating as Aanerud allegedly brandished a handgun and threatened to harm her family if she didnāt comply with his demands.
A Neighborās Final Act of Bravery
Acting to protect her children, Dobson quickly woke them and urged them to seek help at Maskeās nearby home. Meanwhile, the complaint states Aanerud began pouring fuel around her property and removing firearms. When Maske went to investigate, he encountered Aanerud on the driveway and was fatally shot, according to authorities.
Deputies arrived on the scene near County Road 25 and Loerch Road just before 2 a.m., finding the residence ablaze and Maskeās body in the driveway, with rifle casings nearby.
Amber Alert Activation and Swift Rescue
Aanerud then allegedly forced Dobson and her children into a van and sped away, discarding the oldest childās cellphone in an attempt to evade tracking. Following a swift Amber Alert response, the van was located around 7:20 a.m., leading to Aanerudās arrest and the safe recovery of Dobson and her children near Little Falls.
Aanerud now faces an array of charges, including two counts of second-degree murder, five counts of kidnapping, first-degree arson, and first-degree criminal sexual conduct. This tragic case has left a community in shock as they grapple with the violent crime and loss of a valued neighbor.
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