My heart is broken. His death has shattered, but we won’t forget Eli. No one should ever have to feel this kind of pain or experience this kind of trauma. But we have been sentenced to a lifetime of this pain, confusion, grief, sorrow, and trauma. A lifetime without Eli. There are no more triple hugs.
No more I love you. No more memories to be made. Just emptiness. How could someone do an evil thing to an amazing loving kid? Why would she end the life of her own child? She knew that Tory and Eli wanted Eli. So why did she not give custody and let Eli be happy? Eli was an innocent, loving 6-year-old boy.
He did not deserve this. Eli deserved to grow up and have a safe and happy life. You’re living out the nightmare of every parent. The worst nightmare of every parent. There’s a different difference between us though, Tory. Um I couldn’t do what you did. Um I couldn’t if I lost my son. I’m innocent. You all, you’re garbage.
This story will change the way you look at the safety of children. Not because it’s disturbing, but because you can see, step by step, day by day, document by document, how this tragedy could have been stopped at least 20 times. Stay with us until the end. What you learn in the final minutes is worth every second.
May 20th, 2022, Orono, Minnesota. A patrol unit received a call about a suspicious vehicle, a silver Chevrolet Impala traveling down the highway with no front tire riding on bare metal that scraped the pavement and left a trail for miles. The rear window was completely destroyed. There is no tire there. All right.
There’s what? Blood all over the car. I have a license and I have a broken windshield and I’m missing a tire because of the kids were shooting at my car at some guy. What looks like blood in there and It’s not blood. It’s deer meat. I had a big bag of And there’s a farm around here that does deer meat and hamburgers.
Shotgun shells all over the side. Yeah. Holy We got a body. All right, let’s cover it. Officers pulled the car over and found what you just heard. Before we get to what was in the trunk, one request. This story has stayed with me from the moment I first came across it. Stories like this change the way we see the world around us.
And that’s exactly why they need to be shared. Share this video on your social media. Subscribe if you haven’t already and leave a comment with the city you’re watching from. Stories like this one need to be heard everywhere. Every documentary on this channel is the result of a team effort. Gathering sources, verifying facts, reviewing documents, all with one purpose.
So that cases like this one can be recognized before it’s too late. That’s the spirit behind everything we do here. His name was Eli Hart. He was born on December 15th, 2015 in Mound, Minnesota. He lived 6 years and 5 months. He had a gap-toothed smile and a laugh that everyone around him called contagious.
Always that exact word, as if no other would do. At Shirley Hills Primary School in Mound, he memorized the names of every classmate after a single introduction. He didn’t even try. It just happened. Teachers described him the same way. The kid who walks into a room and the room knows it. He didn’t have a mean bone in his body.
He loved Matchbox cars, blowing bubbles, and the swings at the park. When anyone asked what he wanted to be when he grew up, he answered without missing a beat. A firefighter, every single time. He and his dad had a ritual. Every Tuesday evening, Carbone’s Pizzeria. Eli always ordered the same thing, a full plate of meatballs, not from the kids menu.
He ate it with complete seriousness while his father sat across from him and just watched. One of his favorite places was his dad’s shoulders. He climbed up there whenever he got the chance and sat up high, perfectly content with the world. Tory carried him everywhere like that, through the park, along the water, all the way home.
Later, whenever Tory talked about Eli, that was always the first thing he remembered. The weight of his son on his shoulders and how he never wanted to come down. They had only just started fishing together. Tory bought a child-sized rod made for Eli. Eli looked at it, then looked at his dad’s rod, and reached for his dad’s. Tory let him.
On the very first cast, Eli caught more fish than he did. Tory told that story to anyone who would listen. Already laughing before he even got to the good part. That was his son. Absolutely convinced that the smaller version of anything was never the right answer. Eli was born with a rare genetic condition called Townes-Brocks Syndrome.
He wore hearing aids and saw specialists regularly. Most people with this condition go on to live full, normal lives. That’s not a medical footnote. That’s a fact about the future he was supposed to have. Tory Hart completed every evaluation the system required. Psychological assessments, screenings, parenting evaluations.
Not a single official document, not a single case worker’s report ever raised one concern about him as a father. Not one. And yet, for most of Eli’s early years, Tory had no access to his son. When he finally did, he drove from Wisconsin an hour and a half each way every Tuesday for a 2-hour visit. Every other weekend, the same.
He never missed a single one through every court order, every reversal, every delay, not once. He taught Eli to ride a bike without training wheels. He bought age-appropriate toys. Case workers specifically noted this reports because it showed real attention to the child in front of him. When Eli’s mother neglected his medical needs, Tory bought the medications himself and made sure he took them.
Tory’s partner, Josie Josephson, would later say, “When Tory was finally reunited with his son after such a long separation, something changed in him. Like there had always been a piece missing, and the moment Eli came back, the light came back into his eyes.” That’s exactly how she put it. All the time Tory was fighting for the right to be near his son.
On the other side of this story stood Julissa. Julissa Taylor began drinking at 13. By 16, she had added powerful prescription painkillers. By 20, she was using sedatives. At 21, she told doctors she was using hallucinogenic substances nearly every day. Throughout all of this, hospitalizations, diagnoses, depression, mood disorder, borderline personality disorder.
When she took her prescribed medications, things remained relatively stable. When she stopped, they didn’t. In 2015, while pregnant with Eli, she stopped taking her medications. She never went back on them. From that point forward, Tory found himself in a situation that can only be described as the systematic dismantling of his parental rights through the legal system.
Julissa filed complaints alleging threats and harmful behavior. The complaints weren’t substantiated, she withdrew them, or investigators closed the cases for lack of evidence. A St. Paul police report preserved her own admission. Because of her mental health struggles, she constantly accused Tory of things he never did.
She wrote that herself on the official record. And the courts kept accepting her next filing anyway. In 2019, she told police that Tory had hidden a dangerous device in her car. Investigators found a plastic bottle filled with nails. Tory lived 2 hours away and had nothing to do with it. No charges were filed, but a judge ordered him to stay away from Julissa for 2 years.
2 years without access to his son based on a complaint that was completely fabricated. An acute mental health crisis. When child welfare workers arrived at Julissa’s home, they found broken eggs smeared across the floor, rotting food, a flooded upper level. Eli, 5 years old, alone, with visible marks on his body, no hearing aids, matted and dirty hair.
He was removed from the home that same day. He was placed with Steven Kronberg, Julissa’s cousin, and his wife Nikita. They already had two children of their own. They welcomed Eli into their home. What followed became the best period of his life. Everyone who knew him during that time says the same thing. He thrived.
He made friends. He laughed. He went fishing with Tory on Tuesdays. For the first time in a long time, the adults around him didn’t disappear, didn’t scream, didn’t fall apart in the middle of the day. You could see it in every move he made. Meanwhile, Julissa was given a list of requirements to get her son back.
Treatment, stable housing, clean drug screenings, therapy, a mandatory parenting course. Over the following 11 months, she was arrested for stealing prescription medications and medical supplies from a clinic. She was evicted from two separate apartments. Police were called to her home 21 times in 10 months. She stopped attending therapy.
She was removed from the parenting course for disruptive behavior. The testing facility refused to serve her anymore for the same reason. During supervised video calls with Eli, with a case worker present under official conditions, she once held up cat feces to show the 6-year-old through the screen. The call then became chaotic.
She tried to cook while grabbing a cat by the neck and muttering to herself. All of it is documented. During in-person visits, she would sit for long stretches staring at nothing while Eli tried to get her attention asking for help with a toy, growing louder and louder. She didn’t respond. After every visit like that, Eli returned to the Kronbergs showing signs of regression, hiding behind furniture, having accidents, all of it recorded in the case files.
During visits with Tory, the picture was completely different. Case workers wrote, “Smiling, talking, moving himself.” The difference was visible to anyone paying attention. At a court hearing in November 2021, George Thaler, Julissa’s own father, appeared and addressed the judge directly.
He said his daughter was a real danger, that he feared for his grandson’s life, that the system needed to act. Julissa’s own father walked into a courtroom and asked them to protect her son from her. They heard him. They put it in the record, and they kept moving toward returning Eli to her care. Think about that.
Her own father stood up in court and said, “My child is dangerous to her child.” I don’t know what that cost him, but he did it, and nobody listened. By November 2021, Julissa had started, at the very last moment before her year-long deadline expired, doing the bare minimum, showing up on time, attending a few sessions, completing her screenings.
Caseworker Beth Danner considered that enough to move forward with a trial home visit. Eli would return to live with his mother while the county retained legal custody. Everyone who knew Eli wrote in opposition. Steven wrote to Beth, “Are we really just going to forget everything she did over the last 10 months?” Nikita wrote. Tory wrote.
Josie wrote. The night before the visit was set to begin, the 21st of December around 3:00 in the morning, Nikita got up early for work. She looked out the window. There was an unfamiliar car parked outside. Julissa and someone she knew were sitting inside with binoculars watching the Kronberg home for hours in the middle of the night with binoculars.
Steven called the police. By the time officers arrived, the car was gone. Nikita immediately reached out to Beth. She explained what happened. She asked for a protective order. She said she was afraid for her family. Beth responded by contacting Eli’s school to say he would be moving in with his mother two days ahead of schedule because she had been caught watching a child’s home through binoculars in the middle of the night, the child was sent to her sooner.
On December 22nd, the visit began. On December 27th, Tory saw Eli on a video call. Eli was wearing the same pajamas he had on the 23rd. Four days in the same clothes. The boy told his father that Santa hadn’t come to their house that year. That was the last Christmas Eli would ever have. Four days in the same pajamas. Santa didn’t come.
His dad is watching through a phone screen and there is nothing he can do. If there is one moment in this story that broke me as a person, it’s that one. On the very first day of the visit, the school teachers who knew nothing about the case, wrote to child protective services on their own. They had seen how Julissa drove through the school parking lot, and they weren’t comfortable sending a child home with her.
On December 30th, Eli’s court-appointed guardian, Sherry Larson, officially wrote to Beth. The visit needs to end immediately. The mother is unstable. The child is in danger. From someone appointed by the court to protect him, and yet the visit continued. In February of 2022, a teacher held a classroom activity asking students to share examples of time someone had been unkind to them.
Eli said his mom pushed him. The teacher wrote to child protective services that same day. Beth wrote back, “This doesn’t meet the threshold for a maltreatment report. Keep documenting.” A few weeks later, another letter from the school. Eli told his teacher that his mom had grabbed his wrists and squeezed them hard.
There is no record of any response. In private correspondence with a colleague, correspondence later recovered during the investigation, Beth wrote that Julissa was severely mentally unwell, added an exclamation point of the kind people use when a printer breaks down, and identified her main priority. Close this case fast. That letter, written by the person responsible for protecting him, is part of the official record.
Here is something about Minnesota law that matters for this story. While a child protective services case is open, family court will not hear custody petitions. That’s the law. Tory filed for full custody in March of 2022 and was told his petition could not be heard until the CPS case was closed. The only path for Tory to have a chance in family court was to close the case.
Closing the case meant transferring Eli to his mother without oversight. A closed loop built directly into the law. Around the same time, Julissa wrote Josie a letter. She said Tory was a good man and that Tory should adopt Eli. She wrote that herself in a moment of relative clarity that the man she had spent years pursuing through the court system should raise their son.
That letter is also in the case file. In May, Beth sent a different case worker, Amy Horn, to pick up Eli because she didn’t want to deal with Julissa herself. Amy met them at a McDonald’s, not at the apartment. Eli had dark circles under his eyes and hadn’t bathed in days. He told Amy that he and his mom had driven around in the car all night.
Amy wrote to Beth. In response, another staff member wrote to Josie in a message that was also preserved. He believed Beth simply didn’t want to deal with Julissa. That Eli should have gone to Tory the previous fall. That some case workers are just lazy. Josie replied with one sentence, “Something needs to change for Eli and soon.
” On May 10th, 2022, the judge accepted the recommendation from Child Protective Services and closed the case. Full custody passed to Julissa. On March 11th, 2022, Tory officially filed for full custody in Hennepin County Family Court. Six days later, on March 17th, Julissa acquired a firearm. Six days, just that’s how long it took.
Over the weeks that followed, surveillance cameras in her building captured the same thing repeatedly. She carried something wrapped in a gray blanket out to her car, came back inside and did it again. Investigators would later call it one thing, rehearsal. Investigators also recovered the search history from her devices.
First, legal questions. How to keep a child from the other parent when visitation rights exist. How to cancel visits using a doctor’s note. Then, financial. How much a child life insurance policy costs. How insurance pays out in the event of an accidental loss of life. Whether multiple policies can be taken out on one person.
Then, the searches that stopped me cold. What volume of blood loss is critical for a 6-year-old child? How to act at home when police arrive? How to commit an illegal act and blame it on a child? How long a firearm barrel can legally be shortened? She also applied for five separate life insurance policies in Eli’s name.
The maximum amount requested, $400,000. Every application was rejected. On May 19th, Julissa walked into a sporting goods store. She asked for rounds that would cause maximum damage. She bought 40 of them. The gray blanket she carried back and forth from the car for weeks was found in the trunk wrapped around Eli.
The officer pulled the car over and approached the driver’s window. There were visible stains on the woman’s hands, her face, and in her hair. Something was on the back seat that he couldn’t immediately account for. I have to have the only friend that’s left that I got a little bit special. He kept shooting BBs. What’s going on? He kept shooting BBs.
He got home from school. I can’t hear you. You need to talk louder to me. I got to go take our car to go get fixed soon. Okay. What am I sitting Um well, you you don’t have a tire. Oh, I know. I need to go home right now. You’re going where? I’m going home right now to get Okay.
Where is home? Um just down the block. Um do you mind if I get on my way? My I really can’t drive on this tire. Right. So, that’s why you’re being stopped right now because you don’t have a tire. Exactly. And I’m on my way. I literally live one block away. Okay. Do you have a driver’s license on you today? Yes.
Do you guys mind Can I give my dad’s license and my dad drive? No. Hurry. Okay. So, you said kids were shooting BBs at your window? Yeah. When was that? Um like an hour ago. Where where where was that? Um over by the Over by where? Okay. And you know these people? They were kids that were shooting at your window and you don’t know them.
Did you think about calling the police? I chased them down and now I’m going to go call my husband. Okay, well who Who were the kids or what did they look like? Were they in a car? Look at the video right there. On the other side of the asphalt. On the other side of the car. What am I looking at? I was Huh? Like an hour and a half ago.
What BB? I don’t see any. Why don’t you take the keys out of the car? So so shut it off for me. Put the keys on the dash, how about? Sir, I got to get home. I have a flat on my tire. No, you don’t have a tire at all. Exactly. Um You had any guns in the car cuz I see a shotgun shell right there.
No no guns in the car? No. Okay. So I’m not 100% understanding your story. Could you kind of explain from the beginning? Sure. I was sitting in the Alamo AAA parking lot and some kids started shooting paintballs and broke the tire on my car. I said, “Excuse me, you guys. What are you doing?” And they ran off.
So now I’m driving home with a shredded tire on and I need to get there to go call my husband. So they shot out your tire with a with a paintball gun. How did the back window get broken? Why is this going up? She’s rolling windows up. they were just Why don’t you roll that window back down.
Sorry. Because they were shooting paintballs. Well. Okay. Well, my my other partner’s over there. Okay. Okay, so paintballs don’t break a tire though. Well, they must have been doing something because it was really really really really Why is your hand all bloody? I I was just I think I’m thinking.
You’re what? I think that I’m thinking. I don’t know. I really haven’t done anything. Okay. Um When’s the last time you guys had something to drink? No, I don’t drink. You don’t drink alcohol? No, I don’t. Okay. What about No. No? No. Okay. I don’t drink. So, I’m I’m still I’m still First of all, I’m a little worried that you’ve got like your hand What’s wrong with your hand? I got a question.
I’m going to ask you guys something if you don’t mind. All of a sudden, you know, I’m in the police station and I had a flat tire so I ran out there. So, why is your hand all bloody though? I was changing the tire. Oh, you put it Okay. Okay. And that was at the A A A I don’t know. I don’t know. By the Shell. By the Shell gas station.
Mhm. Okay. So, the reason why you didn’t call the police when these kids were shooting BB guns rim had not broken. Okay, but how So, how did the tire get off the car? Um the kids were shooting at it with little little tires that I had in my trunk. Where’s the rest of the Like [clears throat] if Can I Can I have your keys for a second? What? I want to see your car Who are car keys? Sorry, I just don’t know.
Cuz I’m going to hang on to them for now. There. Okay. Sorry. Should I have your car keys? Okay, let’s just get her out. Yeah, let’s have her step out of the car. Why do you need my arms? Why don’t you step out of the car for me? Step out. We’ll go around over here behind your car. Sorry? What’s that? What’s that? I don’t know if I can go home.
I need to go home. I just wanted to put a tire on my car because it’s super Oh, no. Yeah, we got a lot going on here, but let’s get out of the road cuz I know Do you know where the BP apartments are? Do you know where that is? Right off Armstrong Street? Ma’am, let’s get out of the road right here. You know there isn’t any parking.
We’re trying. We got to keep ourselves safe here. There’s cars coming all over uh I know that the BP apartments are across the street from the BP and inside the Bayou apartments. Let’s go over here cuz there’s cars whizzing by. Marissa. I was just wondering when I could get home. I have a tire to put on.
If you just do like a breathalyzer on me, I definitely don’t drink. Okay. So, all this happened because kids were shooting BB guns at you? Well, I was at AA meeting. I don’t know what time What time was the AA meeting? Um like 8:00 a.m. I was leaving with my sponsor in the parking lot. Okay, do you know what time it is now? Only like an hour.
So, what time is it now? Who is going to let me fix this? So, you you have a meeting at 8:00 a.m.? No, that’s 6:30. Sorry, I don’t have the time on my phone cuz my phone is dead. Probably in my car. But, I had a meeting with my sponsor. I went inside to go potty and then I got dressed and then I came out and then I saw some kids shooting at my BB uh at my tire.
And I yelled at them and I said, “Excuse me, guys. That’s my car. What are you doing?” And then I ran out there go get them. Didn’t get a chance to lock her hand or anything and then I noticed the tire like he was walking with the So I hold on and the tire completely fell off. So is the tire still back at the parking lot of the building or where is the tire? The tire fell off somewhere over there, sir.
Do you guys are you trying to search me or something? No, I just because you have blood I’m just going to put gloves on cuz I don’t know where that blood is coming much happening in my life. Answer a question on this one now. You sure? Do you have any mental health problems? No, sir. Nothing? No, no.
No, I actually have a doctor’s note from my psychiatrist just for any custody court. Okay. And they said I’m in good mental health, no problem. Okay. How do you feel today? I feel tired, kind of angry. My car got ruined. I have to run home really quick before the roof falls off. That’s why I’m kind of anxious. Sorry if I feel like I’m on like drugs or something.
Well, we’re just kind of worried about you. There’s a lot going on here and we’re trying to figure it out. What’s your first name again? Judith. What’s your date of birth? 2694 What’s your current address for you? Um 52600 Brand Blvd apartment 215 I’ll plug baby. So you have two residences? Correct.
Why is that? Um the guy that I was dating got fired from the one in the Camellia address. Family over there is that address right there. Okay. Is any of this that’s going on here related to domestic violence? Um maybe those kids could have been. So I want you to I want you to be honest with me. Okay? All right.
Shoot me straight. Is any of this related to domestic violence? Um no, I don’t think so. You don’t think so or you know so? Because I’ve been having a really long day. I need to get home. I’m worried because this looks really bad. And kids shooting paintball guns doesn’t do this do this much damage to somebody’s car.
Yeah. And so I’m worried about you. I’m concerned for you. You’ve got blood on you. That might be something I never said it was a paintball gun, rocks. So, I’m just If you don’t mind, I want to go home and I’ll address that with a lawyer and then Okay. Well, we’ll we’ll let you go home at some point, but not in the second.
What else can I do for you guys? Do you know what day it is? Can I have my ID? Not yet. Do you know what day it is today? Um I thought it was Thursday, the 19th of April. Okay. Do you have any what time in the morning? Um the clock on my car is not calibrated and that was like 6:00 7:00 o’clock.
Okay. Do you want to get descriptions on the kids and stuff from that while I go? Sure. And what did you say [clears throat] your mom said? So, these kids tell me about them. Do you know what they look like? Um yeah, there was the tall blonde one with blue shoes. Um I think he’s about 16. There was a tall black one with cornrows. I would say more like a afro.
And And a green shirt. And that’s it. So, two kids. How old is that guy? I’m going to say like 16 or so. Okay, and this happened where? Um at the AA Alano Club. And help me out. Where’s that one now? I don’t have the exact address, but it’s located by the Shell gas station. Okay.
Who’s your ex? Um Tory. How do you spell that? T o r y h a r t h a h a r t Is that a male or a female? Male. Okay. But Tory wasn’t involved today at all? No. Okay. Not at all. Have you ever been diagnosed with anything that No. I need to know about? That would be a I was just meeting with my coffee with my sponsor this morning for some coffee.
It was fire. It was fire. It was early. And you’re not on any No, sir. What do you used to use? Um my drug of choice is alcohol. Alcohol. And none of that today? No, sir. Cuz we can find out pretty easy. You’re just going to tell me straight? Definitely not. No drugs. Okay.
Any uh medication you’re on? No. Okay. Do you feel like you’re kind of in a crisis today? Yes, I need to get home and put a tire on my car. Well, how about the kind where you feel like you need mental health help? No. Not at all. Your sponsor’s name again? Alicia. What’s her phone number? Um I don’t have the phone number so I have that.
We just meet at that Al-Anon club. Okay. Do you know her last name? No. No. How would we be able to talk to her right now? Um if you can give me your information, I can get back to you with a phone number. Well, we kind of would need her right now. I’d have to drive over there and get see if she’s still there. Okay. I suppose you can go knock on the door over there.
They’re just by the Shell gas She’d be there now? I’m guessing. We just stopped for coffee, so she should maybe still be there. I just left like a little bit ago. Okay. So if we were to do some tests and stuff, you won’t have anything in your system that you shouldn’t have? No. Not all. Okay. I’ve been sober from alcohol about 4 years.
Cuz I think you need to maybe speak to somebody that would be in the know to help you with maybe some mental health stuff today. That’s what I’m mostly worried about. I have a mental health psychiatrist, so you don’t have to worry about me. I don’t know if I look like super messy today, like I’m on my period.
I thought I think so. I’m kind of going through like a breakup with my ex right now, so I really really need some like personal space. Sure. So I’m going to take a bath. I really need to be a citizen. I need to put in my tampon. I want to go for the tire on my car. Yep. I’m having a horrible day. Yeah, right.
if you guys could speed this up so I can go home. And we’re trying. We just we can’t just send you on your way with all this going on. Look at that. We’re still trying to figure out how this part happened. How did the window break? Kids. Kids throwing it up there, kids. Look Look what they did. Yeah.
With a yellow paintball. And then rocks. But I’m I’m trying to figure out who broke the window. The kids did. With a paintball? Paintball and rocks. One of them had a paintball gun. The other had a ton of rocks. They’re being very naughty. Hm. So as far as seeing a psychiatrist, um what are they helping you with mostly? Um just domestic violence stuff, dealing with I guess just handling myself after all that relationship.
Being able to cope, take care of myself. Sure. Normally I’m a lot better dressed. I actually just work nights and then I’ll go get a coffee and then I’ll see my sponsor and Yeah, if you’re cold, maybe cover up better. Yeah. You know, your shoulders are out, maybe they’re getting cold. Can I get my ID from here? I don’t know what the problem is.
You guys are acting like I’m in trouble. Am I free to go? You’re not free to go. We’re still investigating what’s going on here and we got to make sure What’s going on? What’s going on? What do you mean what’s going on? People get car accidents all the time. Good luck. I’d like to leave. Oh, we’re not done yet.
He’s going to come and chat with you some more, but we got to figure out what we can do to either help you or figure out what we got to do here to help you with the vehicle. do anything to help me. I was fine driving a block over by myself. So, is it You said You said you had a meeting at at 6:00. Yeah. With your sponsor.
Was it at the building? Yes, please. I’d like Not Not yet. You don’t have to leave right now. Um So, the It’s at his place. Yeah, I have to leave in 1/2 hour or it’ll be terrible and I’ll miss the car tomorrow at 11:00. Okay. Apparently, okay, he’s contacted uh credit one and having a lightning in the car.
Okay. And what’s the name of your sponsor? Alicia. Alicia? What’s her last name? Um I don’t know her last name. You got all the information. I really like to leave. Okay. All right. That makes sense. Not yet. You’re not free to leave cuz you’re in violation of multiple traffic laws. Okay, I literally just stopped working and I filed a police report.
I’m going to get it fixed today. You filed a police report? I am. You know You know. Okay. Okay, can I leave, please? I will get it fixed today. I understand you’re you’re fantasizing about my car, but it just stopped working like to ago. So, I will I’ll fix it. I would really appreciate it if you could give me my ID back please.
Okay. I need to use the bathroom. I need to shower. I worked all night. I’m tired. Are you sure you Yeah. Um I’ll get back to you when you are free to leave. Which at this point Why do you need Which at this point I don’t know. I’m going to talk to my partner. Uh Do you want to take a seat in the car for a little while if you want? I’m holding my pee.
She’s going to leave, I honestly guarantee you. Let’s get her keys though. [clears throat] Give me one second. Hold on. Shh. Can you go stand there for a minute? Yeah. Just one question. You guys need a warrant to search my car. I’m not searching your car. So, what’s the purpose? Can you go over there so I can do what I got to do? god.
Do you listen Is Is this what you They peed on it in your bathroom. Okay, hold on here. Hold on. Wait a minute. Hold on. What? You see this? Uh This is blood. No, it’s not. Please hear me. Do you need The only way I can relieve myself is over here. Let me see your hands for a second. Can you just show your hand to me? How about the other side? This is dirty.
It’s smells like blood. It’s It smells like It definitely is. Hear me. Oops. Doesn’t it? Yeah, no doubt. Like like I mean No, I’m sorry. My car is in the next row. Why don’t you get off the roadway cuz You guys are being real dumb. Like Can we go and look up in there? Okay, this is like Could you look up? What’s up? So, what happened in this corner here? Sure, so I had bags of groceries there.
I had some deer meat. I had some ravioli and some veggies and those people broke my window so I had to throw all my groceries out. That’s that’s deer meat. What’s up? So nobody else was in here 240 with you, right? No Yeah. Okay. What what’s up? Well, we’re trying to figure it out. There’s a lot going on here.
That’s a lot of blood. What? Or something. It’s blood and So is this what you were talking about right here? That hole is that from a a bullet or That has some BBs or something. So this looks like I think that’s a paintball gun. Do we Do we want Do we want to just put her in That’s probably not a bad idea. Yeah.
Okay. Yeah, let’s do that. What’s up? So where’s the chip? I think it’s in her right pocket. I’m going to go and handcuff her or anything but given the totality of all this, we’re going to try to figure out and make sure that Is her windshield getting replaced? Well, this Did you look at this? How much blood is in your car? There was deer meat.
I had like a half pound of deer meat. Where is the deer now? I threw it out. Why would you want anything in a pool of glass? Where did you throw it out? I don’t know. It’s gone. Somebody needs to search the car. That was what Yeah, right over here. What place was it down there? Um, people garbage day today, so I just pulled over and talked to the officer.
Do you remember where? No, not really. In our area? Yeah. So, I’m super super tired. Okay, let’s let’s have you take a seat. At least you’ll be warmer for a little bit. Okay. Okay. You can sit in yours. Sure. It’s really cold. I get it. I don’t know if it’s unlocked or not. I was going to say you can sit in here.
Oh, no, I’m fine. I don’t want to go in the patrol car. We’re going to have you sit warm. I’m good. I really want to get home and put my tire on and change my tire. If you guys are going to just sit, I’m going to be rude. You can sit and I’m going to have you take a seat, okay? I’m okay. I’m good.
So, what’s What do you guys need? I’m just confused. What do you What’s the problem with my windshield? Well, we got a lot to figure out. really smells about my windshield. I’m not mad about the windshield now. I’m just trying to figure out why this blood in this I mean It’s me. Maybe Maybe Yeah, sure.
Maybe what you’re saying is all true and accurate, but it smells. Like, how long was it here in there? Uh She really doesn’t want to go in the patrol car, though. I really want to go to the grocery shop, so I don’t know if she can get sprayed. 2:00 a.m.? Yeah. Um What are we waiting on? I don’t want to keep her cuz I’m really cold and tired.
What I’m going to call you is such a better if you’re covered up then you can stay warmer. We all agree to let you sit in the back of the warm car. You’re not under arrest. It’s just for warmth. So then if you don’t want to do that then it’s going to have to be you have to be out in the cold. So Hey. That’s just the way it goes.
Uh You have a hole 6 ft roof. One of us So we’re waiting on another tow truck for my broken windshield? We’ll go over and see if there’s three more you can go. Yeah, yeah, yeah. What was that? What was it All this happened right in front of the Yeah, the Avalon It happened right in front of there.
Yep. Did you get her the phone number for her? Did you get Did you give him a phone number for your spouse? I don’t really have a phone number for that. For my spouse there. there? Neither the club. Does she Does she work there? club. She is in the restaurant. Chefs.
Do you know if they have cameras up like they would have caught this whole No, they don’t. It’s a private private apartment for rent on top of it. So I have a question. You just pulled up another tow truck for my broken windshield. I’m just trying to figure out Who’s driving a broken windshield? Is that Is that a rental? Rental of a Well, yeah.
I mean, right now you’re in violation of not having a tire and having a broken tail light. All right? Those are your violations. those ticket things for them? Ticket me for the windshield, the tire, and the scratch and Sweet, we can do that, right? But you’re also But hold on, you’re also the victim of what appears to be a crime.
Stop the crime. Give me a ticket and let me go. So, you don’t want No, I don’t want anything. Give me a ticket and let me go. Nothing? What she done? She wants a ticket and then she wants to get on her way. Can you not really want to go? We have We have a We got to keep looking at We got Can you talk to him because I really want to go home? Here’s what I know.
You got CAN YOU JUST DROP the vandalism charges and just getting a ticket for the windshield and tire Okay, here’s what I do know. We have a supervisor coming and he’s going to kind of kind of talk to us, talk to you, and look around and see what we can come up with and we’re putting it on him to tell us what to do.
So, we’re going to stand here. It won’t be too much longer. Okay. And then hopefully we can get you moving. My suggestion to him is since she has a deer right there, can I just get a ticket for the windshield and tire and you guys let me go? We got a few things to look into. What do you need to look into? It’s not a It’s not a crime to get vandalized.
I’m cold. I want to go home. Okay, just really get the totality of the circumstances. Yeah, people get in car accidents all the time. Yeah, but people don’t have bullet holes and blood and it smells like death in your car. So, like there’s a huge blood splatter. How did that happen? I had deer meat.
So, how did the deer meat get splattered all over us? I heard cracking tires, so I have a big like 5,000 you have in your trunk? Nothing. Nothing in the trunk at all? No. There’s no deer meat or anything in the trunk? No, sir. Is there anyone else driving your car or is it just you? Just me.
You ever loan this to anybody? Um no, I mean I loaned it to somebody like a month ago, but other than that it’s my car. Okay. I’m so cold. I’ll let you sit in the back of the car if you want. I’ll even leave the door open if you want. Can I sit in my car? No. I’m so cold. I got a car here.
I’ll leave the door open. You can come in and out as you want. So, I’m sorry, but this is a weird situation. I’ve never been It is a little weird, isn’t it? But like pull out of my car. I’m so cold for having like a thing in my [ __ ] It’s a It’s a little different. I get it. Um This is my first experience with potential body fluids, too.
I understand you want to be good at your job, but I also think it would be really beneficial if you didn’t give me a ticket like Well, we got one coming here that’s in charge of it all, and then he can move. Tell us what we got. Is he here? I’m so cold. Just let me go. Please let me go. We get it, and we appreciate your patience with us.
I know there’s a lot going on here. Yeah, I mean, what what’s going to happen? Like I just want to Just let me go. I know. Can I just find a way to not get a ticket? Do you understand? I just got penalized by a cop. Can I just, you know, get her down the way? You know what? I don’t think we can do something like that.
You know what I mean? saying everything I said is not going to help me get a ticket? And you didn’t say anything about Well, I was explaining before that right now we are not free to leave. We have a supervisor who’s on his way. He’ll be here in probably 5 minutes, maybe. He’ll be able to give her some guidance on what to do about the things in your car.
We’re also very interested in finding the people that did this given given the severity. If they’re running around being naughty, then they need to get out of the county. to 100% agree. I think it’s the kingdom. Oh, I got a resource. Hang on. 22 to 80. I’m going to give you a call, but could you start heading towards three points and commerce? Yeah, we can go get your phone.
Is that hole from one of the panties? Hey, we got a really interesting situation. We got a girl with uh back window blown out and what looks like blood splatter all in the back and what it is meat matter and what else? She says she threw some deer meat out uh somewhere, but uh the last thing we do know is she was over she was over by three points and uh that gas station there.
Yeah. Well, it’s not a kind of thing to if you just maybe peek in the garbage. Just pull around, look for her while she’s going. I don’t even know what we got, but look for her anything that stands out. She said she threw it out in the garbage area. didn’t know where. And then what also interests us is anyone has that AA meeting place? We’re just trying to kind of piece together if she said she met her sponsor there in the parking lot.
7:45? Oh my god. AA Alanon? I have an appointment at 8:00. Where is that? So I’m thinking what we can use your help with this if you could just keep her on that shelf and and just look for anything that stands out. Maybe laminol, okay? All right, thanks. It’s really tall out. So it would be really awesome if I could get home.
Okay. What’s up? Uh one of my partners is going to go over and look around. Um Where did you throw that gear meeting at? Um I couldn’t tell you. It didn’t Maybe out the store line. Was it by the Cypress um Oh, right where the ball came off. I would behind there. Did you pull behind the building? Yeah.
Did you throw it there? I’m not sure where it was. It was behind my house. Was it a big dumpster or like a small dumpster? It wasn’t a business, it was a house? Well, I might also have like some letters and a tomato. Cuz if we can see that, that would solve a lot and then we could probably get a warrant.
I mean I don’t know if you’ll be able to find his gear that you’re needing if I call the police and I get it from All these things to look at, I suppose. Hey, I think we’re going to change our plan. So do you want the people who did this to you held accountable? It was right by Speedway. No, I just want my ticket.
If you want to bust it in the back behind there, I can. I thought they should be held accountable. don’t know. There might be somewhere within that nearby spot a dumpster. That’s where she last was. That was her where the call was. So, if you want to just peek around and see if you can find anything weird being clubbed up or you know, what not and let us know what you are seeing but somewhere in that spot where the cypress is uh 1123 to leave and get back to me there.
All right. I’m sorry. I don’t want to be here. I just was able to give a little update to go maybe check behind that cypress building. So, Nope, we’re still waiting on our uh on our fearless leader here. What do you got at 8? A what? A nice job? I don’t know what that is. All right. You are We got him coming like I said kind of tried to explain.
Uh Sergeant Tony Wiki. Why are there three officers at my car? I think that’s a lot. Two Oh, I get you. A third one is There he is right there. So, we’re going to brief him and kind of make sure he knows what we know and then you know, we’ll kind of go from there. So, I will make sure to make sure to um You won’t You won’t be without it.
I’ll tell you that much. Oh, good. I’m old. I’m tired. This guy’s familiar with me actually. I’ve been texting them. He knows about my deep domestic situation. Which one? Right here? I don’t know. Not him. I There’s another bald guy like Okay. You don’t have to go over there. He’ll come to us. I have groceries in my car.
I have a broken windshield and I have a missing tire and I have groceries. I have a missing tire and I have groceries. I have a broken windshield and I have a missing tire and I have groceries. I have a broken windshield and I have a missing tire and I have groceries. I have a broken windshield and I have a I have a broken windshield and I have a missing tire and I have groceries.
I have a broken windshield and I have a missing tire and I have groceries. I have a broken windshield and I have a missing tire and I have groceries. I have a broken windshield and I have a missing tire and I have groceries. I have a broken windshield and I have a missing tire and I have groceries. I have a broken windshield and I have a missing tire and I have groceries.
I have a broken windshield and I just want my tickets and I’m going to go home. Hey, where’s home? Bayview Apartments. It’s literally one block away across from the Bay. Let me go home cuz I’ve been sitting here arguing with these guys for the past 30 minutes. Hey, what’s um what are you fully missing a rim and a tire off the spare? Actually, about to fall off.
The tire is off. If I don’t get them now, the rim could snap and I need to put my tire on. Okay. Can it be changed here? No. The tire is in my garage and it’s literally Do you know where the Bayview Apartments are? It’s like a one block away. Mhm. Okay. So, did this just happen? Um about like 6:30-ish or so. This morning? Yeah.
Naughty naughty kids shooting paint balls. Mhm. Okay. It was yellow, too. I don’t know if that makes a difference. Maybe you can find somebody who looks like a yellow one. It was a tall blonde kid and then a black kid. Okay. How long have you lived at Bayview? Um since about November. Okay.
Okay. And that’s your car, huh? Yes, sir. Okay. Insurance and license. Okay. Okay. really need to go home and fold. Okay. So, I was wondering if I could just get like a ticket and maybe no tickets would be awesome, but I was just vandalized this morning. If we could get a skip on the ticket for the windshield and then like a tire ticket and that’s about it.
I’m I’m going to go got you. Well, so here’s my only concern is just driving on How far have you been driving on no tire? Um about three blocks or so, wherever that is. Okay, and then Maybe like four or five The the windshield doesn’t I don’t care about that rear window. Yeah, these guys are being super weird about it. She’s really strange.
I’m just saying as far as safety wise it’s not going to The only thing I’m concerned about is just that tire. Okay. With with getting home. But but the window, I mean, honestly as far as a safety concern for going two blocks, you know, it’s not that big of a deal. It’s just like I say that tire. Okay.
And I because I don’t want you to lose control. Okay. Will do. That’s all. be able to get my ID back from those guys? They seem to be holding I can’t confirm anything. Okay. Well, will you stay here? I’m just going to look at your tire just to see how it is, okay? The tire is fine. There’s no rim on it.
There’s no rim on it. Like if you were if you were to look at a tire like it doesn’t have a rim. So, there’s nothing to look at because there’s no tire on it. Okay. Hold on with my partner here and I’m just going to look at your tire. I just want to see it. Just stay right here, okay? Okay.
Thank you. So, you heard her side. Yeah. So, I would see this happen on the side of the living thing. So, this makes me believe her. Amable? Jesus. Uh Or is that a traffic type? That’s the other thing. So, she said she’s getting hit. But, this is what’s really throwing us.
I mean, she’s obviously got a lot of stuff in there. Yeah. But, that hole and then you can see there’s a crap ton of blood. There’s what? Blood all over the block. And then, there’s the spray and then Is that blood? Yeah. Smell it. Blood. So, what is all the blood in there? I’m being doomy. Hear me.
Here, I don’t want to stand in the traffic here. Sorry, I just don’t want you guys to hit my car or um get an accident. Sorry. What’s this? We got to get that open up somehow. Well, that’s like blood in there. It’s not blood. It’s doomy. I had a big day on this farm over here that does baby sitting.
So, I get fresh eggs from them. Who knows what’s going on in there? You’re waiting for the cabbie. I think we got to I think he was Where did Where did this happen then? Um in the Alano Club and in the Alano Club this guy showered at station. Al- Oh, Al-Anon? Yeah, Al-Anon. Okay. You know where the Shell gas station is, right? Sure. Yeah.
Yeah, I know it’s over there. Okay. And now I got to go. Can we look at Can we look at your trunk? I’m sorry. Oh, he sniffed driven. There is no tire there. All right. I know you got to open it for the entire hour. Yeah, we’ll get to that hopefully soon in here. Yeah, we’re going to okay.
I mean it’s just deer meat. You can look at it. Yeah, where is it? Where is I threw it out. It was full of blanks. Okay. Was there deer meat sitting on the back? I had a few bags of groceries and yeah, I had them. Do you want to see what I have back here? Fair worth saying that I don’t have like any groceries here.
The deer meat is not the problem the problem there. Hey. Uh where are the keys? I have them cuz I don’t want you to drive away from Lost Lake. Um if you ask me um Lost Lake had me follow. I uh To me I mean uh There are really no signs like a bullet that deals in a hand [clears throat] because it almost looks like this is where the shooting happened and I don’t know if I can see a face.
That’s something bigger is going on. Yeah. All right. See I’m going to see if And I do have Sam running around and errands for me. Yeah. To check that inside first. I think that might be where it end up. But I also want to know where this paintball incident happened by that shelf. That shelf is mine.
Okay, I’m going to just make a phone call. Okay, hold on. All right. Shotgun shells Talking about the shotgun shells. Why is one spent one’s not spent? Um one for target practice. I don’t know where my boyfriend dropped the car. I I don’t think Your boyfriend drives the car? When was the last time he drove the car? I was just saying there are three homicides in Three weeks ago and those have been in the car since then? There are shotgun shells all over the center.
Yeah. We’re going to have to take it. Yeah, so but just hold on. Okay. What’s the matter? Hold on. Where’s the actual shotgun? Um my boyfriend keeps it I think, at his house. Who’s your boyfriend? Look at this. We definitely do not have a paintball gun, either. Who’s your boyfriend? Um, so his name is Tory. T O R Y T Y X.
Is this the Tory, no. That’s my ex-boyfriend. Are you talking about the one with the restraining order? Cuz that was straining order. Are you talking about my current boyfriend? Well, you have a restraining You have a protection order against somebody, right? He’s not the one that has the shotgun with the shells, right? No.
It’s your current boyfriend? Yeah. Woah, woah, woah, what are you doing? What do you mean? What Excuse me, leave. Just taking some pictures, taking a couple of photos. I’m capturing the the damage to your car. Hey, guys. I just wanted to know, like Do what? I’m going to need to know what’s going on.
What should I say? Oh, I’m just snapping photos. I figured, uh, with all the damage, we need them. Excuse me. I don’t want anybody in my car. We’re not going in your car. hiding anything, but I feel like you guys probably don’t need to be in my car. We’re not timing around. Like, I don’t want to be rude.
I’m not on drugs. I don’t drink or anything. I just don’t want someone When did you see your boyfriend last? Um, yesterday. Yesterday, what time? Um Pretty much all day. Till I went to work. Is he a nice guy? Yeah, he’s okay. Yeah. He’s going to get in a fight some stuff. Did he get in a fight yesterday? Um, I’m not sure.
He has some like pretty sketchy friends. I don’t know if like they always do the right thing, but since I’m, you know, sober I don’t drink or anything, it’s just they kind of hang out with him and I’ll just do their own thing. Okay. Where do you think he is today? Um, I don’t know. I’m going to have to wait a while yet to get home.
Let me know. I’m just You notice how there’s there’s drops on the outside of the car, too. Is this from the deer meat, too? Um, probably. There’s a big back window. It was How did he get out of How is it on the outside of your car and the inside of your car? Um, I’m not sure.
I mean, if you look at this, there’s also like lots of paintball over here. Well, there’s paintball, but I’m worried about the blood drops on this door, how it got on the outside of your door. I doubt that one on the whole Well, look at it. That’s rust, actually. That’s what? you accusing me of blood on the car? Guys, more is on his way.
If you want to hang out in the car, just go on the uh heat. Make sure you’re warm enough. And one of ours? She is refusing to do so. If you want to sit in one of our squads, I’ll keep the door open. No, I’m okay. I just really want to go home. Do you have any kids? Um Here I am with a son. Yeah, what’s his name? Um yeah, I’m with my boy.
Okay. Where would the boy Where would your boyfriend be right now, you think? Um probably at his house. And that’s where? I’m in Minneapolis. Okay. Yeah, what are we waiting on here? I’m really late home. I feel like I’m in trouble right now. Like really. He’s still on the phone.
He’s got to work with uh somebody here to kind of figure out a little direction on himself here now, so. So, if you looked at the car, why can’t I leave? So, they don’t have a tire? I drive six miles with a tire on, and what’s the problem? Well, we’re going to get you an answer hopefully pretty quick here. Mhm. If the problem is my window, I’m sure I Yeah, the problem isn’t just your window.
You can put plastic wrap. So, the problem isn’t just your window, okay? So, I I know that you’re really focused on that uh that is not as much of a safety concern as a tire, so. Okay. But, right now you’re being detained and not satisfied. For the Minnesota Supreme Court and United States Supreme Court, we can detain you as long as reasonable to continue our investigation.
I’m just I’m just I’m just explaining to you why you’re still here. So, for the Supreme Court, we can detain you as long as reasonable to continue what we need to do. So, that’s why you’re here. If you want to be warm, there’s multiple cars you can hop in the backseat and get the heat on. If you don’t want to do that, then we can stay out here, but then you’ll be cold, so.
Okay. You know what? It’s all a lot of our issues if we could really pinpoint where this deer meat bag is or whatever you got. Was it in a bag? Yeah, it was in just like a plastic bag. It was just one. Okay, cuz if we could uh you know, if we could piece that part together, that would uh that would answer a lot.
So, if you keep brainstorming and come up with a real specific to where it is, that would help us. Why do you need the deer meat in the plastic? Cuz we got a lot going on in here, and until we get the deer meat to know that’s what it was, that’s standing out to us. No, I don’t know where that is. I mean, I could drive back on my route from the club that Say your phone number.
Huh? Say your phone number. Hey, Sam. No. Yep. Yeah, and then uh look around for anything the remnants of uh shotgun blast or paint balls or um I guess the same back to the deer meat bag thing. All right, it might be the dirt lot. I’m not sure. Check both the shell lots and the dirt lot. All right, thanks. All right, yep.
What’s up? My partner’s going to look around a little bit more. We want to see where this paintball fiasco went on. I got a nice warm car if you want to sit in it. I have popcorn in the car, but no. Can I sit in my car? No. Oh, my god. Run. It’s almost 8:00. I have an appointment. I didn’t go.
What is the time? 8:00. I have to go like right now. I have a Zoom appointment. I can’t even find my phone. Can I help make a call to let them know you’re busy and maybe they can set a new time up for you? That would be awesome. Yeah. Do you know a number? Um I’ll call my doctor. Call my doctor.
My Zoom appointment. What? I’m going to tell you that I’m calling them and informing them. Well, I was going to hand you my phone, maybe. Oh, no, that’s okay. I just I have a Zoom a link I have to click on like right now that Okay. Where’s your phone? Um I’m not sure. You might have left it in my spouse’s car. I’ll be really mad if I did.
So, what is that guy doing? I think you guys would be honest with me and like him. I’m being honest. He’s on the phone call with the investigator trying to figure out what we’re doing. About? About all of this. About my car? About your car? It’s with guns, like paintball stuff. It’s with the ram seat.
Why? I mean, is my car Do you see any other paint balls all over my car? Do you guys see any other paint ball? Huh? Hello, do you guys see any other paint balls? No, not at the moment. So, he’s on the phone with following and somebody asking like why I mean, will those boys be arrested or what’s the deal? I’m just I’m not seeing why I can’t zoom in my car while you do that.
Wait, why am I being detained if The hunting photo actually did that to my car. Cuz we still got to figure out what’s going on. Okay, but it seems like you guys are just kind of like I don’t know. It doesn’t make sense why I would get arrested if my car was vandalized. That’s what he’s on the phone about.
We got another person trying to help find this bag that you described with the deer meat. We got just We probably have to figure out where this uh paintball scene was. It’s through the Alamo Park. Is 80 going there? He’s still looking for the bag. 80 is looking for the ball. He tried the bag thing, nothing.
Now he’s going to three points. See now but I seriously don’t know where because it was all black. So, it’s probably going to be tossed somewhere along the road. I guess. There it is. There should be a tire that is deflated. Should be a lot going on there. Where do you think the tire ended up? Huh? That’s a good question.
I think it fell in the in the ditch right I was going to go pick it up once I got rich there. What ditch you think? Um that’s a good question. By the three points you think? Um by Alamo. I don’t know. Is he new? [clears throat] I’m sorry. I think he knew. He is newer. Why? Very honest. Honest? Yeah. Like in a good way? He just seems very too You need So you’re like more relaxed.
He He’s like, “I know. Let’s about the I know. I know. I know. That’s I know, Shayna. Yeah, he He’s very uh alert. Very thorough. Very alert, right? That’s also a way to stay safe. I’ve been around a long time, so kind of though a little bit more chill, I suppose. Yeah, she She’s not a suspect in anything.
So, she can walk. It’s Blossom Hill Road, so that’s Just let me know. Sure, but that’s how it will be. Shayna, just don’t go near it. We’ll get somebody to join you. I just hope you got like Yeah, I like Let me ask you a really important question. Sir. Has anyone been hurt overnight? No, it’s Huh? Not to my knowledge.
Not to your knowledge? Okay. Cuz I’m a little worried that if if somebody got hurt They got hurt. Did anyone get in a big fight? I didn’t Where were you working? I’m a doing So, that’s a grocery shopping at home they tried it get good like fresh meats and eggs from a butcher shop so What’s wrong? She’s mental health.
I’m also worried you might have seen something you didn’t want to see. Is that possible? Maybe? I’m a little worried about what you might have seen. No, nothing. I mean she heard it. I mean what happened? Weirdos? Yeah, there are. Certainly are. You know, it’s obviously the move or something happened something but We just had nothing.
I just got up home with Anna and Ben and they had nothing and So in the first news plane and it’s good. So you know, I don’t think she is going hunting anytime soon. Two shotgun shells in the in the car. One one spent, one not. And her boyfriend there that she’d been using the Yeah, that They’re still working on that part. Well, cuz that’s our supervisor.
Okay, then can I walk over? No, hang on. They don’t like that. They’re they’re in the middle of a trying to figure stuff out and then you know, we end up creating a distraction. And it takes even longer then we’re trying to talk more and I’m worried about you. Can you pull your thing up over your shoulders at least? Yeah, I’m just super cooperative.
I’m something else. Are you in danger today? Um, no. What’s that? No, I’m not in danger. Is someone there? Oh my god, a fourth car? Are they nuts? I don’t even know which one this is. y’all. Oh my god. No, you’re okay. We’re very thorough, you know. We don’t miss much because we’re trying to make sure I gave you everything I know.
I know you did. I really appreciate it. That’s a great Yeah, she saw it too. So, she She said where we were at there, she said that boyfriend We’re trying to pin down when he was last seen in the car. She said it was 3 weeks ago, but then she said it was possibly yesterday. Boyfriend, we don’t know who he is yet, but she said that he hangs out with some very sketchy people.
see what there’s a car So, Well, that one’s an investigator. Uh, so I don’t know. Kyle was talking to her about that stuff and I was just standing by so I was kind of catching you some glances. So you got a Maybe drive by the Alamo? Rear window Well, we got someone over there right now. What’s her name? Melissa Taylor.
There’s blood on the There’s blood splattering on the passenger front outside of the door. So I asked her why there was blood on both the outside and inside and she was Um She’s been driving [clears throat] on that rim for She’s claimed that it was just three points She said she’s going to pay you Honda. Right now.
That’s which is a second address for her. Um There’s like I mean it smells like Jack in the Box there’s some little pieces of guts. At minimum. Will I be able to get my keys? But she don’t know that you had an option. Yeah, eventually. Not her, yeah. I’ve missed a lot of conversations so I don’t know what they’re saying.
So Do you want to go press her for Okay. And Well, they’re coming over here She said she’s been with her AA sponsor this morning at three points when she was attacked by Chase with paint ball guns. There is one paint ball round in the front but oh, we don’t know if she paints from paint ball gun or if it was an accident.
Hi, you’re Genessa? Yeah, nice to meet you. I’m Kyle. You look like the Kyle I know. When the car was used by her boyfriend last or her boyfriend’s friends eat that stuff. Uh, she said nothing as far as that she was aware of. I I asked her something and then it seemed to really shake her off. I said, “I’m worried about you.
” And she said, “Why?” And I said, “I feel like you might have seen something you didn’t need to see.” And she started rocking back and forth and she wouldn’t look at me for about a minute. So and then I said, “Well, I’m really here to help and I want to, you know, make sure you’re okay with whatever happened.
” And then she got really shaky, like rocky. And then I I had And then I asked her uh you know if anyone got hurt. And she just she was rocking rocking away. So Three homicides in all yesterday. This is not a safe place to be. The rim of the wheel. She claims it was driven from three points here. If you look at the grinding on that, it’s a 3.
20 30 miles. Yeah. So given that the whole fact the flood, the rim, all the disotality we’re going to impound the car. Yep. For a search warrant. She can walk. We can follow the side to get as much information from her and her boyfriend and his his friends. So she said his friends are doing the stuff that she didn’t like.
Yes. Yep. And she just said that again. Uh five. Five months? You’re good. She has a little red now. She said another decent tele type. I do feel like we could get a really good signal for her. If we sat down in a better spot. Yeah. A lot more. A real long one. Proceed. This is so relaxing. She was shaking.
She said that she got that DUI at 2:00 a.m. Like that smell was You don’t find it here yet. Like That reminds me of that DUI that you had on the oil yesterday. That’s the guy. That’s that white stuff. It does. It does. Um So, are we not going to peek in the trunk then with the warrant coming or do Should we maybe push for I feel like it’d be worth peeking but I don’t want to ruin it.
I think it’s probably safe to go with the warrant. [snorts] No. Probably isn’t anything. I mean, she said yes. Curious staff I was invited at once. I like it. It’s not from Do you know what that is? I just listened to me like a backseat passenger that Like that. Honestly. in a day It’ll say it’s shooting at her.
I don’t know about in a bus but It’s how many First First I mean, this is God yes. I lost all right now. We’re all over there. See you. You look nice today. This is the the other way. And then And then you just came home and you were like what I’m not sure what time. sponsor about 6:30 And then about 6:30
Maybe like 6:45 or 6:50 or something. Nope. Nope. No, I can’t even figure out what he did. said. Listen, listen to this phone call. 654-242-182. And you guys 182 what? You get the best 650 bucks. What the time? you say? Yes, it is. You guys get close to the time on this way and the transporter.
And so, then I’m going to let you guys sit down. I really want get the key or a ticket. A ticket ticket. Ticket by the beautiful phone. I went to the piano day and took it. They put it on the whole thing. Yeah, I have an appointment at Mr. Knight. Yeah, no. Nice bro. What case is it? Yeah, this is right here.
He’s on the phone actually and make a weird opening. [clears throat] My phone is really really loud right here. That That That video? Yeah, video. Video of a crime. Mhm. 104 and [ __ ] and all of that. You all have a good to do this. Real good luck. My mom took us to the vet.
One of them is a male, another one is a female. Only take a for five hours training orders I have to do. I’ll set it up. And do the um like brand new apartments. Sure. c r a e v i e w apartments So, anyway, I get my key, like a license and a ticket. Like We’ll do it. Step out, open here, and I’ll explain to you kind of what we’re going to what we’re going to do here, okay? What’s the matter then? I mean, these people I don’t like them anymore.
So, this So, this morning, Yeah. That car hasn’t moved from where Where was it parked last night? Where in the city were you at? Um last night I worked in the city but I was in the shop putting my hold in. All night? Where What areas were you in in the night hours? I was in the city doing deliveries in Palm, Naples.
Got you. So Instacart? Yeah. How long have you been in Naples? Um for a year I guess probably. Okay. And that was the So you were driving that car last night Yeah. from 7:00 p.m. from 8:00 p.m. Like when did you start? to like 6:00 a.m. 9:00 to 6:00? Yeah. How many deliveries did you make? probably like 10 to 15.
Okay. A lot of people need it like overnight? Yeah, a lot of people. Yeah? You just leave them on the front steps or Okay. So what do I need to do to get my key back? So right now them a call my information and you have all my information. Here’s the rest of it. So you get you get done Instacart at like 6:00 a.m.
and from your park you have your or you have your meeting at the Alanon club, right? Yeah. So Good there. When you got done Instacart tonight, what did you do? Um I met with my sponsor at Alanon. So you got directly from wherever it was your car like you went in your car to the Panera you drove to the Alanon club, right? Pretty much.
I mean I do deliveries so I mean I go grocery shopping and bring them out to my car and go over and uh back. So where So you you didn’t sleep at all last night or anything like that? Um no, that’s why I’m That’s why I didn’t have my stuff. I don’t understand how that’s I’m just trying to I wasn’t with you. I’m trying to like paint the picture.
We’re trying to figure out how your car got like that This is the investigation line. So I’m an outsider looking in. I just I have to paint this straight picture. I’m just trying to go on that. So she you weren’t staying at Panera last night. You weren’t staying at the Panera. I was in my car. Um So you were doing Instacart 952 367 And then you you came down and you went to the Alanon club.
1 All right, so then Yeah. Start nice out with your sponsor. What’s your sponsor’s name? Alicia? How long she’s been your sponsor? Yeah, yep. Yep, and then the the flight and everything and the driver and ball is all in a bag right now. Um So, yeah. I hope we get something but we have nothing to go on other than tires, obviously.
Yep, nothing. He had a nest over with a bag and gloves and weird stuff over by the dirt lot. No, that just that uh shelf and he does see a bunch of weird stuff. So, I got him sitting on it on that shelf. Like a bag, uh gloves, like medical gloves. I think the tire might be over there. So, he’s got a whole scene.
I thought white went that way though. Yeah, white’s over and he’s I don’t mind if you do that. Yeah, white’s She’s my I might link up some stuff there. I had a a moment with her. And I said, “I’m worried about you.” And she said, “Why?” I said, “I feel like you saw something last night and sometime today.
” And she looked away and started doing this. Like for a minute. And I said, “I’m really worried about you. I want to help.” And she did she looked at me and I said, “Okay.” And there’s an angle. you might have missed there if you want to try that. What kind of car does he have? Um I’m fine. Okay. I don’t know. Um and then I’m back here.
And then I take you to all the pop socks and all that and all that stuff and all that and Do you have any other questions for me while I’m under arrest? No, but at this time we’re not releasing your vehicle back to you. One, it’s unsafe to drive. There’s no tire on the front left-hand side. See your back window shot up in here? To me, you see that you see the back seat right there? Yeah.
It looks like a bullet hole. Well, I have a spare tire in my garage. I can’t really go So, right now, all right. I I don’t have any You’re not under arrest and I’m going to detain but we’re not letting you take the vehicle right now. We’re impounding your vehicle. You’re impounding the vehicle.
Um Oh. Oh. Yeah, I’m Watch that. So, right now, one of my partners is more than happy to give you a ride back back to Baby if that’s where you’re going right now. And I’ll give you I’ll give When do I get my car back? That’s kind of undetermined right now. So, it’s undetermined and you’re going to keep my car? What I’m going to do is I’m going to take your car cuz I believe there’s evidence of a crime in that car.
And see I see I see it clear. Well, there’s obviously a bullet hole through the back headrest there in the window. You’re saying that it it was paintballs but I don’t see any evidence of any paint. I’m not sure why you would have to take my car if I’m reporting the crime. Well, the thing is is the crime that you’re reporting doesn’t match the potential crime that I’m seeing with this vehicle over here.
So, I’m going to I’m going to be I’m going to be impounding your is your We’re going to take it as evidence right now, that the owner of this vehicle is okay. No, I don’t comply to that. Julissa, Julissa. I’m not going to reach out and give you the car. You don’t have to agree to it right now, okay? You right now you do not need trouble right now, all right? But I believe I believe that your vehicle was involved in an incident that potentially has evidence inside of it.
So far we’ll pass this by me and found your vehicle right after that, but but First, I have my card here for you. Stop. Let me give you the city’s contact here and I’m [ __ ] thirsty. You got to hold you. I got the right cell phone number for you, right? Mhm. That’s uh I’m going to make sure I got it right here.
651 2431821 1821? Yep, that’s the right one. Officer Tranchier is more than happy to give you a ride back to the impound yard. Okay, I’m just I’m sorry. I don’t approve of the car. I just want to I had Jackson there. Yeah, I know it’s I know it’s so you know it’s unfortunate thing but You keep talking over me.
Well, we’re not I can’t let you over by your vehicle right now is the thing, okay? I didn’t pound it then. No, so so right now Julissa, I can’t let you by your vehicle right now. Right now it’s it’s under my custody. Okay, well I need my money. I need my phone. All good, okay. Okay, good bits. It’s freezing. Let’s go.
No, I can’t let you back to the vehicle right now. [laughter] I’m more than happy to get you a ride home with you or I’ll come with you. Would you like a ride home with me, okay? Would you like a ride? Um yes. All right, I’ll give you my card, all right? You can work this with Officer Tranchier.
He’s going to get you squared away and get you a ride, okay? Okay, thank you. Yep. Okay. I’m going to see if I can’t grab that I’m going to take a look quick and see. So we’ll we’ll see what all is in there, okay? He’ll let me know I have money and my phone and my purse in there. I need it. Okay. Okay, it’s starting to rain.
You want get in the back of the car? You really, really you know I’m going to hear it so you can give me a ride. Well, he’s that’s what he’s going to do right now. I want to sit in the front since I’m not under arrest. I don’t want to be stuffed I know we can’t you can’t sit in the front. We have a policy that says you can’t sit in the front.
Julissa, why don’t I had one little unique moment. Julissa, I’m going to take you sit in the car. So we’re standing there just staring at him. So we’re standing there I said I said I’m really worried about you and she said why? I said I feel like you saw something you shouldn’t have seen last night or today and she started rocking back and forth for about a minute or two and I said I’m here to help you.
I don’t know I’m really worried about you. Those guys are over at Shell. There is stuff there clerk people said that they saw her just came out one time and she did throw something in the garbage so there is probably something in that garbage over at Shell so I don’t know. Okay. Um Can you tell me what happened? I literally live So William’s rocking for for this.
Okay. You want to walk home? Sure, I’ll walk. All right, we’re going to pull her and have county come and process so we got the tele-types going out. Yep, yep. I’m taking her photos so I want to get them out. I’m really I’m really worried. Let me get this thing that you saw something that you didn’t want to see or be a part of.
Hey, can I get a ride back? However you want it. Yeah, absolutely. I’m sorry to be confrontational. I just have kits from last night in there and my phone and it’s going to make me Well, I guess give me give me one minute. I need to look at one thing and then we’ll make you feel nice here if I get your phone, okay? So Julissa, I’m not going to give you a ride here, sir.
Let’s get let’s get you out of the rain and back in the car. Well, you guys are taking my car. I don’t know what you’re going to do with it. Yep, let’s get you set in the car and then you can you can you can call you can call your attorney. You can call anybody. stuck me in the back of the car. You’re not under arrest.
We’re literally just going to give you a car. You You have two options. You can either get a nice dry ride home, or you can walk, like you said. Those are kind of your two options. You’re not under any arrest. You’re not in trouble right now. You just It’s raining. I would not want to walk home in the rain. So, this is your chance to get a nice dry ride.
All right. I got it. Plus, I’ll be able to drive you and get you a ride home. I would be optimistic. Can I do that for you? Sure, I want my phone, and I have I don’t want to be rude to him, but I have money that So, you can’t go back out to the car. like a criminal. Well, you can’t go back out to the car right now.
You You have to say goodbye to him. Okay, but I have a backpack in there with like Yep, he’s going to determine what you can take and what you can’t. $200 in there, and it would be super awesome to get it. Well, uh we’ll make sure that we tell him, but can I have you sit, and then I’ll get you out of here and get you out of the rain? Then we go Then I’ll get soaked here.
I’d be honored to give you a ride, though. Would you let me do that? No, we’ll be out in a minute. Okay, let’s get I’ll make sure this guy is going to give me my phone. Yeah, I wish that. Okay. You’re not going to get anything from the car. I can give you a ride. I have an unmarked slob, but I have my dog in the car right now.
And I I can’t give you a ride with the dog. So, one of my partners is more than willing to give you a ride. At this time, you are free to go. Awesome. Well, I The car is actually driveable. It is. So, I was wondering if I could just drive it home. No, no, not right now. Why do you need it? Cuz I believe that there could be change of evidence of a crime.
I probably will cause we leave that, and also you have no front left tire, front left tire. I have a phone in there that I need. Yeah, anything that’s in the vehicle right now is staying in the vehicle, unfortunately. you. I was just in the back. Yeah, we’ll get you right home. Yeah, start the washing machine. She looked at him calmly and evenly.
For every question, an answer. The blood, a personal hygiene situation she explained. The material on the backseat, meat she had bought overnight from a butcher whose name she couldn’t remember. The shattered window, kids messing around. The spent shell casing on the floor, no answer. The officer stood on the shoulder of the road and listened.
He had blood, a shell casing, a destroyed window, and a driver with no explanation for part of what was in front of him. But there wasn’t enough legal basis for an immediate arrest. She wasn’t aggressive, she was technically answering questions, and her explanations, as absurd as they were, didn’t directly contradict each other.
About 30 minutes in, she said she was cold and wanted to go home. The officers offered her a ride. What matters is the exact order of what happened next. They drove her home, came back to the car, opened the trunk. Eli was there, wrapped in that gray blanket with the firearm beside him. He had been there the entire time.
While she gave her explanations on the side of the road, while someone offered her a jacket because she said she was cold. Officers immediately drove to her apartment. She was already gone. The washing machine was running. Inside, the clothes she had been wearing during the traffic stop. Surveillance footage from the building.
She had left on foot with someone she knew. They found her quickly. Come on. I’m going to bring you to the hospital. So, he’s going to bring you down to see a sergeant, but you got to be handcuffed in the front, okay? Okay. I’m going to put your hands in the front. Did you let that guy rob you? Did gone? Did he go home? I have no idea.
Second. Is this her paperwork? Uh, yes. Yeah. I got it. Okay. Time to wake up. Right to the hospital. Okay. [snorts] Um, here’s one of the guys that hangs out with me. What’s that? Uh, we need a SARS nurse. If we can get a private room, too.
Check 542. You put myself and 40 uh, with all five of 241 in our lock-in on the warrant. No. Copy. 2113. Uh, I can’t say a whole lot at this time. Well, I just want to make sure we have the right protection. I can give you the address and stuff, too, if needed. Is there a Thank you. Melissa, what’s your
Can I get a wheelchair? Yeah, what are you doing? 2694 Do you know your phone number? 651-242-1821 Last four numbers are 1821? Mhm. Was that correct? I think so. How do you pronounce your last name? Um Poller. What is your last name? Poller. Oh, Poller, okay. Perfect.
All right, and you are from what department? Arnold PD. Arnault. Okay, and what are you bringing to us and for? SARS exam. Okay. Okay, so you are
Yep. I have to reset the fire. Is that right? Yep. Okay. Yep. All right, have a wonderful day. Perfect. There’s no entry. They’re locked. It should be good. Yeah, we’re going to take the short cut there. Sounds good. Thank you. Have a lovely day. Yeah. like me and Polly at the bottom of the list.
It’s longer than No. Thank you. Thank you. There we go. Can I try with you real quick? I’m going to open that. I can push it for you. Oh, thank you. Oh my god, thank you so much. This is going to be really fancy. 29 Thank you so much. Thank you. Thank you. 29 Thank you. Thank you. I’m going to give her the call.
I uh Hello. Hi there. I’m Dr. Curry. Ma’am? Are you there? Hi, I’m Dr. Curry. Can you wake up to talk to me? Yeah? What can we do to help you in the ER? That’s how long it takes, folks, for me.
What? What can we do to help you? Uh Um I just I just want to go to the hospital. Before that I I I the note says that you were assaulted sexually assaulted. Yes. And that’s why that’s primarily why you’re here? Yes. Okay. Um well, I don’t need all the details, but tell me very briefly what happened.
Um Um so, they They did that to me against Can you speak up so so we can we can hear you? They did that to me against my will. I’m sorry. I still can’t hear you. They did that to me against my will. Okay. Um and uh when did this happen? Ma’am. Yeah. Can you tell me briefly what happened? Um so, So, I was um just outside of my car.
Okay. And I was on the phone Okay. Here we wait. Here we wait. And um so, they they did that to me against my will. Okay. Keep talking. And they were driving around the block. And they were going around And they were going around the block again. And they were going Okay.
When did this happen, roughly? Can you wake up and talk to me? This is I’m thinking. I would say like 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m. So 11:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. Last night. Okay. 11:00 p.m. though sometime between 11:00 p.m. last night. Okay. Uh Thursday night into Friday morning. Okay. So you were sexually assaulted. Ma’am. Yes. I don’t know what else.
Okay. What um was it uh penile, vaginal? Yes. Okay. Anywhere else? Okay. Nothing orally or anally? No. Okay. Um the you can you can have a sexual assault exam um where they do a you know like a detailed exam looking for evidence and injuries. The biggest thing that I need to know is are you injured? Yes.
Where are you injured? There. What’s that? In there. Where? I know it’s hard but can you be more specific? It just hurts. In your vagina. Okay. Is anywhere else hurt? Ma’am. What? Anywhere else hurt? No. No. Um, are you bleeding? No. Okay. Um, when was your last menstrual period? Do you know? Ma’am.
I don’t. Is that all right? When was your last menstrual period? Um about a month ago. Okay. Do you think you could be pregnant? No. Don’t think so. Okay. Do you have any medical problems? Ma’am, do you have any medical problems? No. Are you on any medications? Okay. I’m just going to take a quick look at you right now.
The vaginal exam will be done by the by the one of the nurses. Can I see in your eyes? Open them real wide. In your mouth. Open that real wide. Good. I’m going to take a quick listen. Ma’am, sit forward for me. Take a big breath. Again. Again. Big breath. There you go. One more like that. Good. I’m just going to push on your tummy here.
Anything feels in your belly? So, there are specially trained nurses that can do an exam that would collect any evidence. And they’ll also look for any injuries, okay? And then I’ll talk with them. And if they think that you need any medical treatment for any injuries, then we’ll work together to make sure that you get that, okay? Any questions for me right now? Okay. All right.
Thank you. Hi. How’s it going? Good. How are you? Doing good. Very good. I’m guessing you want me to leave the room. Um yeah, if that if you’re okay with that. Yep. Um Yep. Um would you mind if I just got your Has she Has she reported? Kind of. Okay. Are you Is it out of your jurisdiction? No, it’s I think in mine.
It’s just she doesn’t really say a whole lot. So you don’t have a case number? You have a case number? I do have a case number. And And do I see that you’re Orno? Yep. Okay, this is going to be a stupid question, but what county is Orno? Hennepin. Is it? Yep, apparently. That’s what I thought, cuz yeah.
We wish we were in Wright and Carver, but it just never happens. Why did I think Whatever, that’s okay. It’s okay. I’ve had county workers not know what county they’re in. Let me know when you’re ready for a case number. Going to be 22 003856. Is it No, 22003856. Yep. Perfect. All right. Okay, I mean, if you’re okay with stepping out.
If you want to just She’s got to just keep her handcuffs on, so. Okay. And then I’ll just stay out here. Okay. Yeah, and if at any point if we need Just yell. to move, I’ll let you know. Sounds good. And what was your name? Steve, my last name is Sturm S T U R M. Perfect. Thank you very much. Thank you.
Thanks for coming out. You were just at HCMC? Yeah. We called down there and they said, “Oh, there’s no one here. There’s not one here.” So that’s why we came here. That’s ridiculous. We they don’t have one here. Yeah. We cover everything We cover everything in the metro except for Alina. Alina has their one program.
Regions has their program that they cover just a couple hospitals in St. Paul, but like we cover everything else from Northfield to Princeton. So like What shift you are on? Like right now? Me. That’s it? That’s it. For 12 hours. Oh my the hospitals. That is ridiculous. They need they need to start hiring more and paying more then.
We’re very very short-staffed. Oh my goodness. Okay. I should be standing. It’s been a long day. I’ll let you know. See you. Night. Turn off camera. When she was taken into custody, investigators found traces of physical evidence in her hair. Investigators followed the path the bare wheel rim had carved into the pavement.
At a gas station nearby, they searched a dumpster. They found a child’s car seat with damage consistent with a close range weapon discharge. And next to it, a small backpack. Inside the backpack was a kindergarten homework assignment. Whatever had been assigned that week. Whatever Eli was supposed to turn in.
I don’t know what to do with that detail other than say it out loud. The medical examiner determined that his cause of passing was multiple traumatic injuries incompatible with life. The type of weapon used requires reloading between each use. Investigators determined it was discharged up to nine times. That same day, May 20th in the morning, before the news had spread, Beth entered a final note in his case file.
She wrote that at the time of closure, there were no issues requiring further child protective involvement. She wrote that while he was already in the trunk. After a line like that, there really is nothing left to say. Julissa rejected a plea deal and demanded a jury trial. The prosecution agreed without hesitation.
Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty would later call this one of the most disturbing cases she had encountered in 30 years of work. At trial, the man who had been in the apartment that night described the last evening. Pizza, kittens, a video game console, 11:00 at night, a school night, the boy still awake. Julissa became angry.
A physical altercation broke out between her and her own son. A grown woman fighting a 6-year-old child. Afterward, she took the firearm, wrapped it in the blanket, and carried it to the car. She came back inside. She took Eli, and she left. The witness could barely get through his testimony. When the defense asked whether he had ever thought she was capable of hurting her son, he said no, never.
She seemed like a gentle person to him. The defense called zero witnesses. Julissa did not testify. The jury deliberated for less than 2 hours. Guilty. First-degree intentional homicide with premeditation. Eight days later, the sentencing hearing. The family took the stand. At the sentencing hearing, Josie spoke about the boy they had known, about how he woke up every morning full of energy and laughter, how he made friends instantly, first day, every time, how he loved riding on his dad’s shoulders and never wanted to come down, how whenever anyone asked who
loved him most, he always answered for both of them, you both do. She talked about the three-way hugs that would never happen again, about how life doesn’t stop when you lose a child. It just keeps moving around you while you stand there broken trying to remember how to breathe while everyone else goes on with their ordinary day.
Tori couldn’t speak for himself. Josie read his words, too. When the court gave Julissa the opportunity to speak, she declared her innocence and called everyone in the room garbage. On the courtroom recording, you can see what happens in the few seconds after the word life is spoken. She brings her hand to her cheek like she’s scratching it.
The defense attorney stares at the table. Life in prison without the possibility of parole. Tori filed a wrongful loss of life lawsuit against Dakota County. On December 3rd, 2024, a settlement, $2,250,000. The county’s official representative stated that the settlement was not an admission of wrongdoing.
According to the research that formed the foundation of this documentary, between 2014 and 2022, at least 15 children in Minnesota were lost under similar circumstances after being returned to caregivers the system had deemed safe enough. 15 children in 8 years. Federal law requires child welfare agencies to prioritize family reunification as quickly as possible.
Written into law, funded by the government, and in certain cases, it costs children their lives. Tori today testifies at state legislative hearings fighting against proposed amendments that would make the system even more vulnerable with his son’s name. Tori got his son back as ashes and now does the only thing that’s still possible, make sure the next child, the one whose name we don’t know yet, doesn’t lose their life for the same reason.
The foundation built in his name is building a memorial playground at Surfside Park in Mound by the water where they used to fish. The playground will stand at the water’s edge. There will be swings. And the name of a boy who once reached for his dad’s fishing rod instead of the smaller one made for him. Because why settle for less when you can use the real thing.
And on his very first cast, caught more fish than his father did. Thank you for staying with us until the end. Stories like this one don’t belong buried in the archives. His name was Eli Hart. Remember it.
