Moorhead Police Using New Technology To Further Investigate NDSU Murder

MOORHEAD, Minn (KVRR) — The investigation team at the Moorhead Police Department are re-examining clues and asking the community for help with the unsolved murder of the North Dakota State University student Tom Bearson.

“We’re just readdressing to people that what they may have seen, heard, knowledge they have that they may have assumed that someone else had called in that we’re asking them to rethink that and call us and share that information,” said Deric Swenson, Moorhead Police Captain.

Eighteen-year-old Bearson was last seen with friends in the early morning hours of Sept. 20, 2014. Later that day, law enforcement was contacted after Bearson didn’t show up for a ride to visit his family in Alexandria, Minnesota. Three days later, Bearson’s body was found in the parking lot of a Moorhead RV dealer. An autopsy found that he died of asphyxia.

“So what we’ll be doing is taking a lot of the pieces of evidence that we do have going through each piece and then resubmitting for possible reanalysis. Being able to gain new information that we wouldn’t have been able to 10 years ago,” said Swenson.

While many of the peers of Bearson may have moved from the area, Moorhead Police have kept in contact with them to gather as much evidence they can find.

“So we’re asking those people to reevaluate what they may know, what they may have been involved in, what they may have heard. The people that they were around,” said Swenson.

A list of things the police have asked includes altering of physical appearance such as changing of hair, change in normal routine, unexplained injuries, sudden departure from the area, and others.

Law enforcement asks anyone who knows any information about the case or know of any individuals who have exhibited changed behaviors or appearance to contact the Moorhead Police Department.

“In all reality they need to have closure and answers and that’s our goal. That we’re able to gain that knowledge and without jeopardizing the integrity of the case we stayed in constant communication with them. And we’ll continue to do that till this case is complete,” said Swenson.

Law enforcement have set up a phone line and email address for anyone to share information on the case. The phone number is 218-299-5119, or email your tip to bearson@moorheadmn.gov. To send an anonymous tip, text the keyword TIPMOORHEAD and your tip to 847411.