The Murder of Dru SjodinBY Rachael BellshareComments

Taken

Dru Sjodin

Around 4 p.m. on November 22, 2003, twenty-two-year-old University of North Dakota student Dru Sjodin left her job at Victoria's Secret at Columbia Mall in Grand Forks, North Dakota to go home. She had just finished the morning shift and she was looking forward to getting to her dorm room to take nap before starting her second job later that evening at El Roco nightclub, where she worked as a waitress. At 5 p.m., after temporarily stopping at a store in the mall to purchase a purse, Dru headed out to the parking lot where her red, two-door 1994 Oldsmobile Cutlass was parked.

While walking to her car, Dru talked with her boyfriend, Chris Lang, on her cell phone for some ten minutes before their call was abruptly interrupted. Suddenly she said something like "no, no, no, OK, OK, OK" before the line went dead, according to the family web site.  Some published reports claim she said "Oh my God!" Later that evening at around 7:42 p.m., Chris received yet another phone call from Dru's cell phone but he heard only static and "tones, as if random buttons were being pushed," Bill Bickel reported on the family's website www.Drusvoice.com. The second call lasted less than a minute and was later found to have been made at a rest stop near Crookston, Minnesota.

Concerned for Dru's welfare, Chris called Meg Murphy, Dru's college roommate, to find out if she was there. Murphy hadn't heard from Dru and when she learned that she didn't show up for her shift at the nightclub that Saturday evening, she called the police at around 9:30 to inform them that she was missing. It became increasingly clear as the night wore on that something was terribly wrong.

The Search

Dru Sjodin school photo

The following morning, Dru's disappearance was classified by the Grand Forks Police Department as a missing person's case, which prompted an investigation. That same day, the police found Dru's car at the Columbia Mall. Her pocketbook and a shopping bag containing her new purse were in the car but her keys and cell phone were nowhere to be found. There was no evidence of a struggle, although investigators did find a knife sheath lying outside of the car next to the passenger's side door, which was left unlocked. The police impounded the car and confiscated the mall's surveillance videos of the parking lot, in the hopes of finding further clues as to what happened to Dru.��

Dru's mother shows pictures to media

Wrought with fear for Dru's safety, her parents desperately appealed to the media and offered a $20,000 reward for any information that might lead them to their daughter. A generous citizen, who remained anonymous, matched the reward by contributing another $20,000 to help find Dru, Fox News reported. As the news spread about Dru's disappearance, Grand Forks citizens joined together en mass to help the police and family members find the beautiful, vibrant blonde girl that had suddenly gone missing. Fliers, posters and buttons adorned with Dru's image were widely distributed and could be seen ornamenting store fronts, light poles and lapels pleading for Dru to "Come home."�

Come Home Dru pin

The police had already mounted a full-scale search, which spanned the Great Forks area, as well as nearby Fisher and Crookston, Minnesota, the area where Dru's cell phone signal was last picked up. During the massive search, volunteers and law enforcement officials looked for clues along the Red Lake River, local roadways, wooded areas and the ditches and fields that dotted the rural landscape. Even search dogs and helicopters were employed to assist in the hunt for Dru. Yet as the days stretched on, there was no trace of her.

Alfonso Rodriguez Jr.Police believed that Dru had been abducted and that the crime might have been sexually motivated, although they initially refused to release publicly any evidence that supported their theory for fear of compromising the case. Finally, after a few days into the investigation an analysis of the mall's surveillance videos led federal, state and local investigators to their first potential suspect, Alfonso Rodriguez, Jr., 50, of Crookston, Minnesota. On November 26th, one day before Thanksgiving, police launched a stakeout of Rodriguez's home and eventual search. The search was prompted by evidence that he was at Columbia Mall at the time of Dru's disappearance and physical evidence obtained from his car that linked him to Dru. On December 1, 2003, Rodriguez was taken into police custody and charged with Dru's kidnapping.

Alfonso Rodriguez Jr. Charged in Dru Sjodin case Trial set to begin March 6, 2006

Rodriguez was no stranger to the police. He had an extensive criminal history, which involved repeated sexual offenses against women. In fact, he had just been released from a Minnesota prison on May 1st, some six months before Dru's disappearance, after having served 23 years for charges that included rape, aggravated assault and kidnapping.

Another Rodriguez mugshot, younger

Rodriguez had been listed on Minnesota's public registry as a Level 3 sex offender, which is considered to be one of the most predatory of offenders that had a significant chance of re-offending.� However, North Dakota didn't have a sex-offender registry at the time of Dru's disappearance. Thus, Grand Forks area residents were unaware of the potential danger Rodriguez posed to their community.

A Life of CrimeRodriguez was the second oldest of five children born in Laredo, Texas in February 1953 to migrant workers Dolores and Alfonso Rodriguez Sr. Mara Gottfried reported that the family "moved for 15 years between Texas and the Red River Valley"� before finally settling in Crookston, Minnesota in 1963. Rodriguez claimed to have had an unhappy childhood, describing his home life as "unpleasant" because his parents were highly critical of him and "unreasonable in their demands."

Sign St. Peter Regional Treatment Center(A convicted rapist escaped from this facility last month and was captured later out of state.)

Gottfried said that Rodriguez admitted to using drugs throughout his youth, including acid, hash and marijuana. Rodriguez claimed that he was molested by older women during his youth which he said was the source of his hostile feelings against women, the Star Tribune reported. However, sexual psychopaths habitually blame others for their criminal behavior and his claim lacks credibility.

Rodriguez became increasingly isolated while growing up, which was further compounded by language barriers. His preferred language was Spanish and he struggled with English, which made school especially challenging. He eventually dropped out of school during the ninth grade and began working as a laborer at the American Crystal Sugar Company plant in Crookston.

Rodriguez as a youth in high school

In October 1974, at the age of 21, he asked a woman for a ride home and instead he directed her to a driveway in Crookston, where he "grabbed her by the throat, pulled her back in the car" and tried to rape her at knifepoint, Gottfried wrote. The next month, he approached another woman, who was sitting in a truck outside of a Crookston movie theater. He threatened her with a knife and ordered her to drive to a secluded location in the countryside where he raped her.��������

Cycle of Violence

Alfonso Rodriguez Jr. attacked his second victim in 1974 outside Crookston's Grand Theatre. In court, he said he saw the woman by her pickup in the partking lot, showed her a steak knife and told her to drive him outside of town, where he raped her.

The police finally caught up with Rodriguez and arrested him. He pleaded guilty to aggravated rape and to attempted aggravated rape and was sentenced to 15 years in prison. However, Star Tribune reported, that "the judge stayed the prison term to allow Rodriguez to be evaluated and treated at the Minnesota Security Hospital in St. Peter." While there he was psychologically assessed and found to have a history of anxiety and depression, as well as "an alcoholic personality disorder with some paranoid, schizoid and antisocial tendencies."��

While on furlough from the hospital, Rodriguez was accused of attacking a Mankato woman, for which he was later acquitted. Then in 1979 he attempted to abduct and sexually assault a 69-year-old junior high school English teacher while she was out walking one night in Crookston. The woman fought back as Rodriguez tried to force her into his car. In a fit of anger, he stabbed her with a knife in her elbow and abdomen, yet she managed to break free and run to safety.

This is a 1987 prison photo taken after Alfonso Rodriguez was transferred to a Minnesota state prison in Stillwater.Alfonso Rodriguez Jr. as he appeared in a 1980 booking mug after he was arrested for kidnapping and assault in Crookston.

The woman, who was artistically talented, was able to draw a composite sketch of Rodriguez that closely resembled him and led to his capture. This time he was convicted for attempted kidnapping and aggravated assault and sent to prison for 23 years before his release in May 2003. During his incarceration, Rodriguez refused sexual offender treatment and was only counseled for chemical dependency..

Upon his release, Rodriguez moved into his mother's house at 210 Adams Street in Crookston and took on menial jobs, including working on a construction project hanging drywall. Those who lived in Rodriguez's neighborhood were aware that he was a convicted sexual offender. Yet, many of them claimed that "all appeared normal at the house" even after Dru disappeared in November 2003. No one suspected that he was involved in the crime. That is, until law enforcement officials raided his house on November 26th and later arrested him.

Evidence

Rodriguez's car

Even though Dru still had not been found, investigators were able to compile enough evidence to implicate Rodriguez in her kidnapping. Rodriguez's 2002 Mercury Sable car, which was seen in mall surveillance videos on the day Dru disappeared, turned out to be a treasure trove of evidence when it was impounded by police and analyzed by a crime lab.

A search of Rodriguez's car revealed blood stains and a jackknife. After� DNA analysis, the blood stains located in several areas within the car were determined to have come from Dru. Moreover, a 4-

inch jackknife was discovered in the trunk soaking in a pool of household cleaner, according to CNN. Investigators claimed that the knife matched the sheath found next to Dru's Oldsmobile.

Investigators also revealed that several days after Dru's disappearance, a shoe was found under a bridge along the Red Lake River. The black Nine West loafer was later identified by Meg Murphy, Dru's roommate, as having belonged to Dru, Fox News reported. It was the only article of clothing belonging to her that had been found during the intensive search.

Dru at a party

Based on the evidence and the time that had passed since Dru's disappearance, it was unlikely that she would be found alive. Grand Forks County Sheriff Dan Hill broke the heartbreaking news to Dru's father Allan Sjodin on December 10, 2003. CNN reported that Hill apologized to Mr. Sjodin and "the two men were seen hugging and briefly shaking hands." Hill was later quoted as saying that the search for Dru was "more of a recovery than a rescue [mission] at this point in time." Dru's friends and family were clearly devastated by the news, yet refused to give up hope in finding her.

Refusal to Give Up

Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty

In an unprecedented move, the governors of North Dakota and Minnesota pledged during a December 9th press conference to aid in the search for Dru by employing several hundred members of the National Guard and other state employees. North Dakota Gov. John Hoeven said that Dru's disappearance was "something that has touched every North Dakotan." Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty told reporters that he was "very proud of the cooperation and the collaboration that's been exhibited" by members of the community and police officials.

North Dakota Gov. John Hoeven

Rodriguez, who was imprisoned in a Grand Forks jail, claimed that he was not involved in Dru's disappearance and refused to speak to law enforcement officials or provide information as to her whereabouts despite the evidence against him. During a brief bond hearing several days earlier, bail for Rodriguez's release was set at a staggering $5 million. However, Grand Forks citizens were so angered about the possibility of his release that Rodriguez decided to remain in custody for fear of his safety.�

Alfonso Rodriguez Jr., 50, listens at his bail hearing on a kidnapping charge in Northeast Central District Court in Grand Forks, N.D., on Dec. 4. Federal prosecutors have taken over the case and Rodriguez will appear today in federal court in Fargo.

In the meantime, the search for Dru continued, spanning a 30-square-mile area of the Grand Forks region and reaching into Minnesota. Those looking for Dru hoped that they would have more success in finding her since the winter snow was just beginning to thaw. After five long months of searching, they were anxious to bring Dru home.�

Found

Dru's father Allan Sjodin

Finally on April 17, 2004, the search for Dru had come to a painful end. A police reservist and a retired deputy searching a secluded area of west Crookston found her mutilated body wrapped in a blanket in a snow-covered ravine near the Minakwa Country Club golf course. Her body had bore marks of "torture and severe physical abuse," Fox News reported. An autopsy later revealed that she had also been raped.

Dru's family was overwhelmed with grief upon hearing of the heart-wrenching discovery. Her father told reporters, "We were waiting for that call and when that call came we all stopped living for a second." It was her parents' worst nightmare and one that would haunt them for the rest of their lives.���

Dru's funeral service

On April 24th, Dru's family finally bid their daughter farewell during a somber funeral service at Grand View Lodge near Nisswa, Minnesota. The funeral was attended by an estimated 1,500 mourners, all of whom had been touched by Dru in life and in death. Dru was remembered "as a young woman with a generous heart and an infectious spirit," who was dearly loved and missed by those that had the honor of knowing her, Tom Robinson reported.��

Another photo of Dru

Dru was laid to rest that afternoon at Pinewood Cemetery in Crosslake. Following the service, Dru's grief-stricken mother, Linda Walker, released a white dove in memory of her daughter. Robinson stated that the mourners received pine saplings wrapped in a pink ribbon, Dru's favorite color.�����

Dru's Life Celebrated — Her Early Years

Dru smiling

On September 26, 1981, Dru Katrina Sjodin was born to Linda (Sutfin) Walker and Allan Sjodin of Minneapolis. Dru was the couple's second and last child, preceded by her brother Sven who was two years her senior. Linda Walker said on the family website that Dru was "very good-natured," "smiley" and just an overall "wonderful baby" who was well received by the family.

Dru had a happy childhood. As a young girl, she was referred to as Princess because she loved to dress up in pink dresses. She was the quintessential "girlie-girl" her mother said. From a young age, she established close friendships and was adored by those who knew the sweet little girl with "electric" blue eyes.

At the age of three, Dru's parents divorced but remained friends. Her mother remarried a man named Sid Walker. Dru lived with her mother, brother and Sid in their new house in the Twin Cities area. However, she and her brother saw their father frequently and spent vacations with him, which often included Sid and their mother.

Dru's Life Celebrated — Growing Up

Dru Sjodin

Growing up, Dru had many hobbies, such as gymnastics, track, golf, swimming, basketball and skiing. Yet, by far her favorite way to pass the time was painting. She also enjoyed making unique gifts for friends and family members, which she gave to them on special holidays or just when she was thinking

of them. She was considered to be a very thoughtful and generous person, with a vibrant personality and a contagious laugh, which is what made her so special.

In 1992, Dru and her family moved to Pequot Lakes, Minnesota where she enrolled in Pequot Lakes High School. She was just as popular there and in her final year of school she was crowned Homecoming Queen. After graduating with honors, she was accepted to the University of North Dakota, where she majored in graphic design.

According to Kristen Swing who wrote on the family web site, prior to her death Dru enjoyed spending time with her family, sorority sisters at Phi Beta, her many friends and her boyfriend Chris Lang, as well as taking vacations to Mexico, her favorite destination. Bob Heales, a family friend, told Fox News, "Dru is going to carry so many people forward and there will be so many good things done because of Dru." One of those things was the creation of Dru's Law, a bill which is a part of the "Children's Safety Act of 2005" that if passed will lead to the creation of a national data base of sex offenders available online.

Stalled Trial

Alfonso Rodriguez Jr.

After a year of pre-trial hearings, the trial of Alfonso Rodriguez Jr. on kidnapping and murder charges was scheduled to begin on July 6, 2006 at the Quentin Burdick Federal Courthouse. U.S District Judge Ralph Erickson was appointed to preside over the trial. The prosecution team, led by U.S. Attorney Drew Wrigley and including U.S attorneys Norman Anderson and Keith Reisenauer, spent two years preparing for the case. The defense team, led by Robert Hoy of West Fargo and Richard Ney of Wichita, Kansas was also well prepared. Ney temporarily represented BTK serial killer Dennis Rader at trial in 2005.

Drew Wrigley

Tension filled the courtroom on the first day of trial and was exacerbated when a computer glitch in the court's computers led to the trial's temporary postponement. Judge Erickson apologized to Dru's family and friends, as well as to other members of the court for an alleged violation that occurred during jury selection, which was caused when a computer erroneously "produced a list of potential jurors that was not random," said Dave Kolpack of Grand Forks Herald. According to court officials, "jury selection could take the rest of the month."

Robert Hoy

Federal prosecutors plan to seek the death penalty, since the heinous crime was committed across state lines. Joseph Daly, a criminal law professor at Hamline University in St. Paul told CNN, "A federal death penalty case is quite unusual, especially when you're talking about a state that doesn't have the death penalty" North Dakota abolished the death penalty law in 1975 and the last criminal put to death in the state occurred in 1905. If Rodriguez is sentenced to death, he could be the first person to be executed in the state in more than one-hundred years.

Human rights advocates expressed anger about the decision to seek the death penalty. However, the controversy did not deter federal prosecutors, who agreed with Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty when he stated "that the most heinous sex offenses should be subject to the death penalty." It is not known whether Dru would have approved of pursing the death penalty, we can only guess.

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