Investigations in two rape cases continue

By DAWN SLADE
Mille Lacs County Times
Posted 2/19/03

Still under the media spotlight, Mille Lacs County Investigators continue to work on the two sexual assaults that were reported on Sunday, Feb. 2 and Tuesday, Feb. 4, which occurred at Eddyís Motel during the Arctic Blast celebration on Mille Lacs Lake.

Contrary to what some news stations are reporting, Mille Lacs County Sheriff Brent Lindgren says the county has conducted dozens of interviews with people regarding the cases, including past and present Vikings players and staff, through their attorneys.

"Actually, the coordination of those interviews through the attorneys is improving," Lindgren said.

Admittedly, the process is slow, mainly due to coordinating interviews between the sheriffís office, the attorneys and the witnesses. Investigators have been travelling to the Twin Cities to conduct the interviews.

Twin Cities TV Station Fox 9 News reported that Mille Lacs County did not have any rape cases last year. Technically, there were no "rape" cases, because law enforcement and the court system do not refer to rape cases, but rather different levels of sexual assault.

Last year in Mille Lacs County, the system dealt with 40 criminal sexual assault cases.

A urinalysis was taken from the first victim who reported the assault on Sunday, Feb. 2, and it was sent to the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) as toxicology evidence. Results are not expected until April.

Because the second victim didnít report the crime immediately, a toxicology report was not available.

Lindgren said additional evidence is continuously being collected and sent to the BCA for testing.

DNA results are not expected back until June. With DNA and toxicology results expected to take weeks and months, it is likely that the county will not be filing any complaints until that time.

The sheriffís office is asking that anyone who was present at Eddyís and witnessed, can identify, or have information, regarding these two cases, contact the sheriffís office at 320-983-8250.