We Remember 2011
We Remember is a memorial to Minnesota’s victims of intimate partner homicide. Each of these victims is someone’s child, parent, sibling, family member, intimate partner, friend, neighbor, or co-worker.
Krissy Bates
Age 45
Minneapolis
January 10, 2011
Krissy Bates was strangled and killed by her boyfriend, Arnold Waukazo. Arnold strangled Krissy at her apartment in Minneapolis. When her body moved, he then stabbed her four times in the torso and one time to the left side of her neck and broke her ribs. Arnold was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to 367 months in prison.
Leila Kim Scott
Age 44
St. Paul
January 21, 2011
Leila Scott was beaten and killed by Michael Sherman. Michael beat her in the head and neck with a baseball bat. The evidence indicates that he had wanted sex for money and a dispute arose concerning the money. He was convicted of unintentional second-degree murder and sentenced to 12 1/2 years in prison.
Katherine Marie Pohjonen
Age 19
Vadnais Heights
January 25, 2011
Katherine Pohjonen was murdered by her husband, Kalen Pohjonen. Katherine was shot by Kalen who then shot and killed himself. Investigators were called to their home in Vadnais Heights after a colleague of Katherine’s reported she had not shown up for work. Investigators looked in a window and saw the couple unmoving inside. The Ramsey County medical examiner ruled in a preliminary report that Katherine was shot with a handgun by Kalen. The handgun was found at the scene.
Nicole Marie Meier
Age 26
Blaine
Nicole Meier was shot and killed by her former boyfriend, Jesse Oakley. Nicole ended her relationship with Jesse in the summer of 2010. When she moved out of the townhouse the two shared in Circle Pines, she asked for police protection. Nicole was trying to collect back rent that Oakley owed. She indicated at the time to co-workers that she was afraid to meet Oakley at his home. When she did not come to work the next day, her co-workers called 911. The authorities found Meier dead from gunshot wounds at the townhouse. They also found the body of Oakley and concluded that he killed her and then himself. Oakley also had a documented history of violence against his ex-wife, including stalking. Oakley's ex-wife had received a protective order against him that was to expire in March 2011. He had violated the order in December. The police found notes in Oakley’s home indicating that he was “obsessed” with both his ex-wife and Nicole. The protective order required him to give up his guns. The police found two 9-millimeter handguns in his home when they found Nicole.
Rondy Sorgatz
Age 75
Truman
February 22, 2011
Rondy Sorgatz was shot and killed by her husband, Carl Sorgatz. Family members were concerned and called police to check on Rondy and Carl. Police officers went to the Sorgatz residence on February 22nd and found the couple dead. The investigation has shown that Carl killed his wife with a gunshot and then killed himself.
Cynthia Hickman
Age 34
Brooklyn Park
February 26, 2011
Cynthia Hickman was beaten and killed. Her estranged husband, Henry Hickman, is charged with second-degree murder and attempted second-degree murder for setting fire and leaving their minor sons in the house. Cynthia had obtained an order for protection less than two weeks before she was murdered. When Cynthia sought the protective order, she testified that Henry had abused her for years and had been increasingly emotionally volatile since she talked of divorce. She testified to waking up next to her photograph with a knife over it and said he slapped, punched, and pushed her on different occasions. Evidence shows that on February 26th, Henry beat Cynthia with a baseball bat. He then lit a mattress, threw it on top of her body and ran out of the home, leaving the bat on the lawn and his two sons, ages 8 and 5, in the basement where he told them to stay. The man who had been dating Cynthia received several phones calls from her number. When he answered, the caller identified himself as “Hank” and said that “she’s done.” The man then called 911. The police went to Cynthia’s house, rescued the children from the burning house and found Cynthia’s body. The prosecutor plans to go to the grand jury to ask that Henry Hickman be charged with first-degree murder.
Tabitha Lee Belmonte
Age 16
Amor
March 21, 2011
Tabitha Belmonte was shot and killed by her boyfriend, Dylan Cox. Dylan was found injured at the scene. He shot Tabitha multiple times and then shot himself. He died the next day from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The shooting took place in the home of Cox’s parents where Tabitha was living with Dylan and their seven-month-old daughter.
Dawn Anderson
Age 45
Park Rapids
March 22,2011
Dawn Anderson was shot and killed by her estranged husband, Gregory Duane Anderson. Dawn had obtained an order for protection in November 2010, indicating in her petition that Gregory had an alcohol problem and was becoming increasingly erratic and out of control. On March 22nd, Dawn called 911 and said that her husband was threatening to kill her. In the background of the call, there was a loud noise and then the phone went dead. The couple’s 20-year old son ran for help to a neighbor and they also called 911. Gregory had had his firearms taken away after a 2007 gun conviction and authorities are not sure how he obtained a rifle. Before the police arrived, Gregory shot himself after killing his wife.
Abigail M. Fedeli
Age 20
Brooklyn Park
April 8, 2011
Abigail Fedeli was shot and killed by her former boyfriend, Aaron Parson. Abigail was killed by a gunshot wound to the neck while she was in the break room at Festival Foods with Michael M. Habte, another employee at the store who had recently started dating Abigail. Aaron, also an employee at Festival Foods and someone who Abigail had previously dated, came into the break room and shot both Abigail and Michael. Abigail had broken up with Aaron about three months earlier. Abigail died at the scene and Michael died later during surgery. Aaron Parson fled the store. When officers approached him, he shot and killed himself.
Michael Maurice Habte
Age 21
Brooklyn Park
April 8, 2011
Michael Maurice Habte was killed by Aaron L. Parson who shot him several times with a gun. Michael was with Abigail Fedeli in the break room at Festival Foods where he worked. Aaron Parson, who had previously been seeing Abigail, came into the break room and fatally shot both Abigail and Michael. He then fled and killed himself when police approached him.
Kristopher Miller
Age 27
Minneapolis
May 11, 2011
Kristopher Miller spent an evening out with the estranged wife of Derrick Griffin. Derrick was stalking his wife. After seeing Miller walk his (Griffin’s) wife to her car, Griffin followed Miller to his home and shot him twice on his front porch. Derrick Griffin has been convicted of first degree premeditated murder. The conviction carries a mandatory life sentence without parole.
Linda Kay Norman
Age 51
Granada
June 2, 2011
Linda Kay Norman was shot and killed by a former boyfriend, Curtis Lynn Larson. Curtis shot Linda in a minivan in a relatively secluded area of Imogene. The minivan was parked outside Our Place Bar. The authorities believe that the two had previously had an intimate relationship. Linda was shot in the head with a .22 caliber rifle by Larson and then he shot himself in the head with the same rifle. There were no witnesses to the shootings.
Kristen E. Sandeen
Age 40
New Hope
June 5, 2011
Kristen Sandeen was strangled and killed. The Hennepin County Attorney’s office has charged her boyfriend, Douglas Manney with second-degree murder and he is currently in custody. On Saturday evening June 4th, police were called to the home of Kristen Sandeen and Douglas Manney. Police escorted Douglas to a nearby motel for the evening. The next morning, Douglas called Kristen’s sister to say that Kristen was unconscious and that he did not know if she was dead or alive. He asked her to call 911 and told her he was leaving the apartment. Police found Kristen dead on her living room floor. The autopsy shows that she died of strangulation.
Georgia Lee Bogema
Age 58
Dayton
June 10, 2011
Georgia Lee Bogema was stabbed and killed by her husband, John Bogema. John killed Georgia Lee with a knife, inflicting multiple wounds, including a slit to her throat. The police found Georgia Lee’s body in her bedroom under blankets. The knife he used was placed on top of the blankets. John was convicted of second degree murder and sentenced to 359 months in prison.
Kandace Blaine Dunn
Age 22
Cass Lake
June 26, 2011
Kandace Dunn was shot and killed. Her former boyfriend, Ross Zangigabo Littlewolf is charged with second-degree murder and two counts of assault in the second degree for aiming a shotgun at two other people. Ross shot his way into Kandace's home at 3 a.m. in the morning, went to the bedroom where she was sleeping with her two children, and shot her in the head. He then went to another bedroom and pointed the gun at a couple asleep there and ordered them to go into the other bedroom to care for the crying children. Ross has a criminal history, including a conviction of felony domestic assault in 2009. Ross Zangigabo Littlewolf was sentenced to 45 years in prison.
Josselyn Bishop
Age 19
Henderson
July 8, 2011
Josselyn Bishop was stabbed and killed. A grand jury charged her former boyfriend, Damone Tillman-Williams with first-degree murder. Josselyn had ended her relationship with Damone. According to court documents, Damone picked Josselyn up in a car on July 8th. He pulled the car over to the side of the road near a cornfield and stabbed her once in the stomach. As she tried to flee, he chased her down and continued to stab her in the stomach. Damone said that the last time he saw Josselyn she was lying in the grass bleeding. Less than two hours later, construction workers found Josselyn. Police and paramedics tried to revive her, but she was pronounced dead at the scene.
Kimberly Paulette Grew
Age 51
Virginia
August 13, 2011
Kimberly Paulette Grew was shot and killed by her estranged husband, Brian Grew. Brian shot Kimberly four times with a .38 caliber hand gun the evening after he received notice that Kimberly had filed for divorce. The couple had separated recently. Kimberly Grew had been home with two of her friends. A call for help came into 911 at 8:02 p.m. another at 8:06 p.m. reporting that a husband had shot his wife. When the police arrived a couple of minutes later, they found both Kimberly and Brian dead. After shooting Kimberly, Brian Grew shot himself.
Laura Therese Hulke
Age 51
Linwood Township
August 19, 2011
Laura Therese Hulke was shot and killed by her husband, Todd Arthur Hulke. After her employer called the police for a welfare check, the authorities found Laura dead from one gunshot wound to her head. Lying beside her in the couple's bed was her husband, Todd, who had also died of a single gunshot wound. Friends report that the couple had marital problems. There are no police records of domestic abuse. The authorities have ruled that Todd killed his wife and then shot himself.
Mauryn E. Masire- Moore
Age 38
Brooklyn Park
September 13, 2011
Mauryn Masire-Moore was stabbed 63 times with a kitchen knife. Her husband, Prince O. Moore, Jr. has been charged with second-degree murder. Prince had minor stab wounds and claimed he acted in self-defense. They had been married for four years.
Cintia Guadalupe Ornelas Bustos
Age 28
Oakdale
September 15, 2011
Cintia Guadalupe Ornelas Bustos was shot and killed by her boyfriend, Jamie Velasquez. Cintia was killed by one gunshot wound to her head. Jamie also killed Angela Uscanga Gonzalez with one gunshot wound to the head. Angela was the live-in babysitter and housekeeper for the couple. Jamie took his own life with a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The couple’s three-year old son was in the home during the killings and their six-year old daughter found the three bodies when she came home from school.
Angela Uscanga
Gonzalez
Age 43
Oakdale
September 15, 2011
Angela Uscanga Gonzalez was killed by one gunshot wound to the head by Jaime Anival Almaras Velasquez. Angela was the live-in babysitter and housekeeper for Cintia Guadalupe Onelas Bustos and Jaime Anival Almaras Velasquez. Jamie also killed Cintia with one gunshot wound to the head before he took his own life with a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The couple’s three-year old son was in the home during the killings and their six-year old daughter found the three bodies when she came home from school.
Stephanie Jaeb Maxam
Age 51
St. Paul
October 3, 2011
Stephanie Maxam was shot and killed by her former husband, David Maxam. David shot and killed Stephanie at 8:03 p.m. in a parking lot at Parkdale Plaza. Stephanie had divorced David in 2006. David’s body was found later that evening in Minneapolis near 37th St. and Hiawatha Ave. S. He had apparently died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Renata Fernandez-Ramon
Age 30
Ortonville
October 6, 2011
Renata Fernandez-Ramon was reported missing on October 6th. The next day her boyfriend left the country with the couple’s two minor children. On November 24th, Renata’s body was found buried outside of Ortonville. The crime is currently under investigation. Renata’s boyfriend is the prime suspect. His name has not yet been released.
Susan Marie Courteau
Age 44
St. Paul
October 13, 2011
Susan Marie Courteau was stabbed to death. On October 13th, she called police to say that her boyfriend, Patrick Benton, had been drinking and was scaring her. Officers escorted him off the property and cited him for trespass. Later that day Susan was stabbed to death. Patrick told a family member that he needed a “cooling off period” after having a fight with his girlfriend. Patrick has a criminal record that includes assaults and violations of protective orders. He has been charged with 2nd degree murder.
Megan Sheree Neely
Age 27
St. Paul
October 15, 2011
Megan Neely was strangled and killed. Authorities found Megan dead in a 3’x 3’ cubbyhole in her home. Her estranged boyfriend, Corey Dean Thomas, who has a history of domestic violence against another woman, has been arrested in Miami as a “person of interest” in the death of Megan.
James Kelly Omara
Age 43
Sauk Rapids
October 29, 2011
The last time James Kelly had been seen was October 28th when a delivery man brought him a pizza. Neighbors saw Angelina Omara, James’s ex-wife, enter his apartment on the 29th. James was found dead with a gunshot wound to his head November 1st when the odor led the building manager to enter James’s apartment. In trying to locate Angelina, the Sauk Rapids police had contact with the Ashland, Wisconsin, police on November 1st at a hotel in their city. The hotel staff had called police because Angelina wanted to prepay for several nights of lodging with cash. On November 1st relatives of Angelina’s boyfriend Michael Pies, reported him missing-they had not heard from him since October 29th. On November 2nd officers found Pies dead from an apparent gunshot wound to the head in the hotel room. Police in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, found Angelina there on November 2nd and she was arrested on foot at 2:30 a.m. on Thursday, November 3rd. Angelina has three misdemeanor convictions on her record, including a domestic assault in August, 2007, against James prior to their marriage. The couple divorced in February, 2008. Michael Pies was arrested twice in Cold Spring, Wisconsin after he assaulted Angelina on October 2nd. On October 16th, he was arrested again for violating a no contact order. Angelina waived extradition to Minnesota. Her attorney said that Angelina has terminal cancer. She has been charged with second-degree murder of James. The Ashland, Wisconsin, district attorney is expected to charge Angelina with the equivalent of first-degree murder for the death of Michael.
Francisco Hernandez
Age 21
Minneapolis
October 30, 2011
Felix Hernandez-Pedraza shot Francisco Hernandez four times in the chest at a Halloween Party. At the party Felix saw Francisco talking to a woman who Felix had dated in the past and who had invited Felix to the party. Felix has been charged with second-degree murder.
Po Lye
Age 40
Albert Lea
November 19, 2011
Pah Ber has been charged with 2nd degree homicide in the stabbing death of Po Lye. Po Lye was a friend of Pah Ber’s 21-year-old son. Po had asked to spend the night. When Pah came home at 6 a.m. after a night of drinking and card playing, he saw Po on the living room sofa. Pah apparently believed that Po wanted to have sex with Pah’s wife. Pah is reported to have told police that he was being teased by his fellow refugees from Burma about his wife cheating on him. Pah stabbed Po in the stomach and then chased him around the apartment. Pah’s wife, Paw Pree, fled to her bedroom and locked the door. Pah broke in and stabbed her numerous times including several times in her eyes, blinding her. The couple’s young daughter was in the bed with her mother when Pah stabbed her. A child led Paw Pree out of the apartment when Pah retreated to the kitchen to sharpen the knife.
Lori Christine Baker
Age 39
Oakdale
December 28, 2011
Lori Baker was stabbed and killed. She was found dead in her Oakdale apartment having been stabbed several times. Her boyfriend, Thomas James Fox, had absconded from a halfway house while on a work release permit. He is the sole suspect in the stabbing death of Lori.
Officer Shawn Schneider
Age 32
Lake City
December 30, 2011
Police officer Shawn Schneider was shot in the head while responding to a domestic assault call. On December 19th, Officer Schneider, a 9-year-veteran of Lake City Police Department, responded to a report of domestic violence. Alan Sylte, Jr. shot the officer as he helped Alan’s 17-year-old former girlfriend escape the house. The ex-girlfriend was not injured. Alan died from self-inflicted gunshot wounds. Officer Schneider died on December 30th from the gunshot wound.