We Remember 2018
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.
Cristina Prodan
Age 27
Edina
January 4, 2018
Cristina Prodan, 27, was killed by her ex-boyfriend, Joseph Sean Anthony Porter, 25, on or around January 4, 2018. Although under an active Domestic Abuse No Contact order issued in December, 2017, Porter was known to stop by Cristina’s apartment. Cristina’s mother reported her missing to police early morning January 5, only 30 minutes after an officer had encountered Cristina and Porter near her apartment, where Porter drove away from the scene. When Porter was arrested on January 6, his face was covered in burns. Police discovered that, on January 4th, he beat her and then choked her to death. He then shoved Cristina’s body in a large suitcase and drove to New Orleans where he put her body in a junkyard shipping container and burned it, accidentally burning himself in the process. Porter has an extensive criminal history with numerous domestic violence charges and No Contact Order violations. Both Cristina and Porter’s mothers commented on Porter’s history of abuse, stating he had raped and beat Cristina and had a history of harming animals. His mother also notified police weeks before Cristina’s death, saying that he was planning to kidnap Cristina, empty her bank accounts, and take here to a place she would never be found. Porter pleaded guilty and was convicted of second degree unintentional murder, but given a sentence longer than the recommended term due to his hiding Cristina’s body.
Lori Weiderhoeft Moore
Age 43
Beauford
February 16, 2018
Lori Wiederhoeft Moore, 49, was shot and killed by her husband of ten years, Timothy Moore, 57, on February 16, 2018. According to the Blue Earth County Sheriff’s Office, Lori contacted 911 seeking help with a “domestic altercation.” As law enforcement was being dispatched, Timothy picked up and told the 911 operator he had shot Lori and was planning to shoot himself. When authorities arrived to the Beauford area home, they found both dead. Timothy had a documented violation of a protective order from 2015 and Lori’s family and friends state they saw signs of his abusive behavior. Lori had hidden two of his three guns and was attempting to leave the relationship; her family had plans to help her move the following day.
Eileen Viveros-Vargas
Age 18
St. Paul
March 9, 2018
Eileen Viveros-Vargas, 18, and her unborn child, were murdered by her boyfriend, Luis Isaac Chacon-Villeda, 19, on March 9. Police were called to Chacon-Villeda’s parent’s St. Paul home, where they found Eileen shot in the head and Chacon-Villeda administering CPR. She was pronounced dead at the scene. Chacon-Villeda initially told first-responders on the call that he had shot Eileen, but when being interviewed later said she shot herself while he was across the room. Finally he admitted to shooting her but claimed it was an accident. Despite preliminary autopsy results indicating Eileen’s cause of death was homicide and investigators claiming they learned the couple of two years had a “volatile relationship” with possible prior domestic violence incidents, an investigator at the scene claimed the handgun found at the house did not have a magazine and “appeared to have malfunctioned”. As a result, while Chacon-Villeda was charged for possession due to drugs found in the room, he was not charged for Eileen’s murder.
David Riess
Age 58
Blooming Prairie
March 23, 2018
David Riess, 58, was found dead from multiple gunshot wounds on March 23, in his Blooming Prairie home. Police began to suspect David’s wife, Lois Ann Riess, 56, after she forged over $10,000 in checks in her husband’s name the following day. Unable to locate Lois in the state of Minnesota, authorities searched around the country and received a report from acquaintances in Florida that she was in the state on April 5. While in Florida, on April 9, she killed and robbed a 59-year old woman to steal her identity. Ten days later, on April 19, Lois Riess was apprehended by officers on South Padre Island, Texas, after a restaurant host recognized her from media coverage. She was then extradited to Florida, and has been charged with first-degree murder with a firearm, grand theft of a motor vehicle, and grand theft and criminal use of personal identification information of a deceased individual. The Dodge County Sheriff’s office has stated they are investigating Lois for killing her husband; Although she has not yet been charged for his murder, second degree charges are expected to be brought against her.
Lashay Wittaker
Age 41
St. Paul
April 21, 2018
Lashay Whittaker, 41, died in the early morning hours of April 21, in St. Paul, after his vehicle was hit by Shawn Michael Konder, 26. At the time, Konder was fleeing police after they responded to a domestic situation on the night of April 20. Konder had been watching over his son and his girlfriend’s son that night while she was at work. When the girlfriend returned home, she found a drunk Konder and her son in a physical altercation. Konder eventually left the home, but returned with an 18-inch machete. Police were then called and told by a witness that Konder threatened to kill his girlfriend and her son. As officers arrived at the scene, Konder escaped in his van and led them on a chase. The chase ended when Konder’s van smashed into Lashay Whittaker’s car and a garage unit. The garage collapsed and fell on top of Lashay and his vehicle. Lashay was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead just after midnight, April 21. Konder pleaded guilty to one count of fleeing an officer causing death or bodily injury; Because of the plea deal, multiple other charges relating to the case were dismissed. He was sentenced to 15 years in prison
Dwayne Hawkins
Age 29
Minneapolis
April 26, 2018
Dwayne Hawkins, 29, was shot and killed by Willie B. Brown, Jr., 35, on April 26, 2018, in Minneapolis. Dwayne’s body was found by police officers responding to gunshots, and he was later pronounced dead at the hospital. Two days prior, on April 24, Brown had propositioned a woman at a home close to where Dwayne’s body was found and an argument ensued between the woman’s relatives and Brown before he left the scene. On the night of April 25 or early morning April 26, Brown returned to the home to confront the woman’s relatives. Dwayne arrived and attempted to diffuse the situation, leaving in the same vehicle, but with Brown accompanying him. The vehicle was later found abandoned and with blood in the interior. While officers were investigating the shooting where Dwayne’s body was found, they were dispatched to a shooting at the woman’s residence where the argument occurred. The woman, who was propositioned by Brown days earlier, told police she saw him driving the since abandoned vehicle and firing multiple shots at her home. Not long after this, Brown was located and arrested in the same area where two guns were found matching the ammunition from the crime scenes. Surveillance was later found showing Brown dumping bloody clothes in a carwash in the time between the shootings. Brown was found guilty of second-degree murder, in addition to one count of drive-by shooting and one count of second-degree assault.
Christina Marie Woods
Age 28
Beatty Township
June 13, 2018
Christina Marie Woods, 28, was killed by her boyfriend, Daniel Lynn, 40, on or around June 13, 2018, in Northern St. Louis County. After going missing from the couple’s home state of Indiana several weeks prior, her cellphone records led investigators to the Iron Range. There, on property belonging to Lynn’s family, her body was discovered wrapped and bound in a shallow grave. Investigators also found burnt clothes and jewelry in a burn pit on the property. The medical examiner ruled Christina’s cause of death to be homicidal violence, but Lynn later stated he had strangled her. His wife confirmed that she had witnessed Lynn kill Christina. According to media reports, Lynn had a history of abusing Christina, including beating her so severely she ended up in the hospital in May of 2018, just a month before her death. Daniel Lynn pleaded guilty and was convicted of second-degree murder.
Joyce Engelbrecht
Age 67
St. James
June 16, 2018
Rachel Linder
Age 43
St. James
June 16, 2018
On June 16, 2018, Scott Engelbrecht, 59, shot and killed his wife, Joyce Engelbrecht, 67, and her daughter, Rachel Linder, 43, in St. James. Police responded to a call from Linder’s son on the evening of June 16th, who reported that his grandfather had shot his grandmother at their home. Once officers arrived, they found Scott in the front yard with a .22 caliber rifle. He quickly surrendered to police and admitted to the shooting. Inside the home, officers found Joyce with a gunshot wound to her head, but still breathing and alert. She was transferred to a local hospital and died the next day. Rachel Linder was found dead from a gunshot wound two houses down from the Engelbrecht’s. Linder’s son told police he was eating dinner at the Engelbrecht’s home when he heard a loud sound and his mother yell that Scott had killed Joyce. Linder’s son told her to run before locking himself in the bathroom. It is believed that Scott then followed Linder two houses down, where he shot and killed her. Scott has noted he has a history of “temper problems” and doesn’t remember shooting them. Linder’s son said the shooting happened after an argument occurred because Scott had forgotten the couple’s wedding anniversary. Scott Engelbrecht has been charged with two counts of first degree murder.
Shequill Terall Halbert
Age 24
Minneapolis
July 19, 2018
Shequill Terall Halbert, 24, died on July 19, in Minneapolis as a result of stab wounds inflicted by Bruce R. Fry, 47. Fry had been romantically involved with Shequill’s sister and had been sharing private images of hers without her consent. Shequill and his brother went to Fry’s apartment building on July 13 to confront him about these actions, but he did not answer the door. Shequill returned later that night, and this time with Fry met him at the entrance. Surveillance video showed the two exchanging words, after which Fry stabbed and slashed at Shequill before fleeing the scene. Police were called shortly after this and arrived to find Shequill bleeding heavily and unresponsive. He was taken to the hospital and rushed into surgery, but his injuries were too severe; He was put on life support and later passed away on July 19. Fry was caught and arrested on July 15, two days after the incident. While in custody, Fry told officers he was recently released from prison for a murder in another state. He has been charged with second-degree murder for the killing of Shequill Terall Halbert.
Shana Lynne Hollins
Age 39
St. Paul
July 23, 2018
Shana Lynne Hollins, 39, was killed in her St. Paul home on or around July 23, 2018, by her ex-boyfriend, Ivan Walker, 33. Walker, a resident of Illinois, had been dating Shana since November of 2017, and stayed at her home in St. Paul several nights each week. A few weeks prior to Shana’s death, Walker had been kicked out of her house for publicly assaulting her and her sister and was supposed to stop by to pick up the rest of his things. In the early morning hours of July 23, Walker violently raped Shana’s minor cousin at the St. Paul residence, and threatened to kill her before admitting he had already killed Shana. After Walker sexually assaulted the girl again, she found Shana’s unresponsive body on a bed. Walker had strangled Shana and then put cocaine and a straw into Shana’s nose to make her death look like an overdose. After assaulting Shana’s cousin one more time, the girl was able to convince Walker to leave and the police were then called. Walker was arrested soon after the call was placed. He has a long and violent criminal history with numerous charges in Missouri and Illinois, including an arrest for domestic battery and an Order for Protection against his ex-wife, and failure to report to his parole officer. Walker pleaded guilty. He was convicted of second-degree murder for killing Shana and first-degree criminal sexual conduct for assaulting her cousin.
Enedelia Perez Garcia
Age 27
Shakopee
August 12, 2018
Enedelia Perez Garcia, 27, was stabbed to death by her ex-boyfriend, Fraider Diaz-Carbajal, 35, on August 12, in Shakopee. Enedelia had recently broken up with Diaz-Carbajal after a three year relationship due to his ongoing abuse against her. On the afternoon of August 12, Enedelia returned to the home she once lived in with Diaz-Carbajal to retrieve some of her belongings. Upon hearing Enedelia yelling at Diaz-Carbajal to “drop the knife”, another resident of the home went to Enedelia’s room and observed Diaz-Carbajal repeatedly stabbing her, followed by him stabbing himself in the abdomen and cutting his own throat. The roommate fled the house. When police and paramedics arrived, they found Enedelia dead at the scene. Diaz-Carbajal survived with multiple stab wounds and a 6-8 inch cut along his throat. In addition to his abusive relationship with Enedelia, he had a previous history and was convicted of abuse in 2007. He pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the killing of Enedelia and was sentenced to 40 years in prison.
Dah Dah Ray
Age 58
St. Paul
August 18, 2018
On August 18, Dah Eh Ray, 59, stabbed and killed his wife, Dah Dah Ray, 58, in her St. Paul home. At 10am that morning, police responded to a call for a possible domestic disturbance. Upon pulling up to the scene, officers saw Dah Eh Ray walk out of the house covered in blood and under the influence of alcohol. In an upstairs bedroom, police found Dah Dah Ray, stabbed over twelve times, with a note on her body written in Karen. It read, “rest in peace.” There were also multiple spots on the carpet where Dah Eh Ray had attempted, but failed, to set the home on fire. Dah Dah Ray had been estranged from her husband after years of domestic violence. She was granted an order for protection against Dah Eh Ray in the summer of 2017, on which her husband had threatened to kill her numerous times in the past and that she feared more violence would continue. He was arrested shortly after it was filed for violating the order. There was also a previous incident where he threatened her life with a knife in hand. Dah Eh Ray pleaded guilty to second-degree intentional murder and was sentenced to 22 years in prison.
Jennifer Lee Moy
Age 45
St. Cloud
September 29, 2018
Jennifer Lee Moy, 45, was strangled and killed by Daniel Kenning, 38, in his St. Cloud home on September 29. Jennifer, who lives in Blaine, met Kenning at a wedding, and recently connected through Facebook. On September 28, Kenning drove to Blaine, picked up Jennifer, and drove her to his home in St. Cloud. In the early morning of September 29, Kenning took Jennifer down to his basement, tied her legs, and handcuffed her hands to a table. He then proceed to strangle Jennifer to death. Later that morning, Kenning went to the St. Cloud Police Department and informed them he had killed someone, and upon a search of his home Jennifer’s body was found. Kenning told police that he was “supposed to kill” Jennifer the previous weekend they were together, but he could not do so at the time. Daniel Kenning was indicted for first-degree murder after being found competent to stand trial.