Crime Archives - KVRR Local News

Thief River Falls woman enters not guilty pleas to attack on child, trial set for May

February 19, 2026

TJ Nelson,

THIEF RIVER FALLS, Minn. (KVRR) — A Thief River Falls, Minnesota woman accused of cutting a child’s throat waved her omnibus hearing this week and pleaded not guilty. 35-year-old Edwina Stoutenburgh is charged with attempted second degree murder without intent and second degree assault. Court documents revealed she tried to cut the child’s neck last July but the knife was…

Cass County Sheriff’s Office Warns of Escalating Scam Attempts

Sheriff Jesse Jahner says that phone scams are nothing new; however, he's concerned about a recent trend where scammers appear to be trying to meet their victims in person.

February 19, 2026

Gabriel Ostler,

FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) – The Cass County Sheriff’s Office is warning the public about scammers who may be pretending to be law enforcement officials and who appear to be escalating with their tactics. The office says that scammers, often using a falsified phone number to appear as if their call is coming from the Sheriff’s Office, will contact family members…

Richland Co. rancher accused of theft of over $650,000 worth of livestock

February 19, 2026

TJ Nelson,

RICHLAND CO., N.D. (KVRR) — A Colfax, North Dakota man is charged in Richland County with the theft of over $650,000 in cattle and the unlawful transport of livestock. Court documents reveal that Daniel Dockter was in a 40% agreement on the calf crop for cattle from two Benson County, North Dakota ranchers. One rancher had 93 head of cows…

Osakis man arrested for having child sexual abuse material

February 18, 2026

Alison Voorhees,

Christopher Payne, Douglas County JailOSAKIS, Minn. (KVRR) — A man in Douglas County is arrested for having child sexual abuse material involving a minor under 14. A cyber tip from the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and the sheriff’s office arrested 64-year-old Christopher Payne of Osakis. While following through with a search warrant, investigators found additional items of evidence….

Fargo police chief on how local police deal with immigration-related issues

February 17, 2026

TJ Nelson,

FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) — Fargo Police Chief Dave Zibolski gave commissioners an overview of how his department deals with immigration-related issues. He says there needs to be an actual or alleged violation of state law or city ordinance for local police to get involved. But Zibolski says their main focus is peacekeeping when safety of the public or law enforcement…

Grand Forks man charged with attempted murder after Valentine’s Day stabbing

February 17, 2026

KVRR Staff,

GRAND FORKS, N.D. (KVRR) — A Grand Forks man is now charged with attempted murder for stabbing a former girlfriend on Valentine’s Day at the Lagrave Place Apartments. Court documents show 42-year-old Fernando Lucio arrived with Valentine’s gifts and then left to get the victim cough drops. Her kids reported that Lucio returned and told the woman “you don’t appreciate…

North Dakota man among 5 charged in Agridime cattle fraud case

February 17, 2026

KVRR Staff,

Beef cows graze in a pasture near Killdeer. (Photo by Jeff Beach/North Dakota Monitor)KILLDEER, N.D. (North Dakota Monitor) — A North Dakota man is among five people facing federal criminal charges related to investments in a cattle and beef marketing company that was determined to be a Ponzi scheme. Taylor Bang of Killdeer was named in an indictment filed last…

Another search for Isadora Wengel planned in Battle Lake

February 16, 2026

Alison Voorhees,

BATTLE LAKE, Minn. (KVRR) — A new search party is organized for Sunday, February 22 to look for the body of Isadora Wengel. Wengel is a 25-year-old West Fargo woman who went missing in the beginning of January. Authorities believe she was murdered by her boyfriend, Joshua Hite, sometime between January 3rd and 6th. So far, no body or remains…

Unborn child dies, woman suffers serious injuries in St. Cloud collision

February 16, 2026

KVRR Staff,

Christopher Otte (Stearns County Jail)ST. CLOUD, Minn. (KVRR-KFGO) – The unborn child of a woman who was pinned inside her burning van died after a Friday afternoon collision in St. Cloud. Police say the crash seriously injured 34-year-old Nastaho Amare of St. Cloud. Amare was in the late stages of pregnancy when a suspected drunken driver hit her van, head-on….

Civilians Meet To Search For Isadora Wengel

Community Gathers to Search for Isadora Wengel

Organizers handed out maps of the Red River and encouraged searchers to mark where they had looked. They hoped to find Isadora and bring her home, but they also wanted to show support for her still-grieving family.

February 15, 2026

Gabriel Ostler,

FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) – Since Isadora Wengel was reported missing in early January, the Fargo Police Department and other law enforcement agencies have been looking for her tirelessly. The case against her boyfriend, 21-year-old Joshua Hite, has moved forward on circumstantial evidence – but neither officials nor the general public will rest until her remains are found. To that end…