Thirty-five-year-old Jacob Colt Johnson, from Superior, Wisconsin, was charged Monday with second-degree murder in the death of 34-year-old Richard Balsimo, who investigators say was likely murdered in late June. The matter was complicated by the recent trial of a co-defendant, Robert Thomas West, who was found guilty in February of aiding an offender as an accomplice after the fact to second-degree murder and interference with a dead body. The Midwest Medical Examiners Office identified Balsimo, of Saint Paul, and listed the manner of death as homicidal violence.. Minnesota Crime Watch & Information publishes news, info and commentary about crime, public safety and livability issues in Minneapolis, the Twin Cities and Greater Minnesota. Robert West Charged After 34-Year-Old St. Paul Man's The woman said she later noticed bullet holes in the passenger seat of the mans car. Balsimo's family was critical of law enforcement and said they did not see any significant movement on their missing person report until they hired Duluth private investigative firm Applied Professional Services, which identified the cause of death and location of Balsimo's remains. No one should have to go through the terrible emotions and sad news that they have dealt with in recent weeks.. It seemed as if my brother was just another missing Indigenous man who they viewed as a criminal.. Richard Balsimo A Superior, Wisconsin, man has been charged in connection with the killing and dismemberment of a St. Paul man whose body was found in Lake Superior last month. "These are extreme circumstances that I think are important, and the change of venue is necessary to make sure that both Mr. Johnson and the state get a fair trial with (jurors) that have not been subjected to the level of publicity that has been received in Cook County.". RELATED: Jury convicts Douglas County man in North Shore dismembering case, SEE ALSO: Evidence at issue in North Shore dismembering case, pleaded guilty last June to aiding an offender and agreed to cooperate, Arrest made in suspected Minneapolis mosque arsons, Hibbing man pleads not guilty in girlfriend's death, An 'extraordinary person': Colleagues, friends celebrate life of Duluth Judge Sally Tarnowski, Essentia Health ordered to pay Bayfield County family $19 million for medical malpractice, Authorities ID driver killed in Superior collision, The beginning of the rest of their lives: Powwow recognizes Fond du Lac graduates and more, Grand Rapids man dies in semi crash, fire on Highway 53, Lake Superior Medical Equipment relocates to West Duluth after fire, Minnesota DNR, feds sign agreement over logging in wildlife areas, Special Olympics return to Northland after 3 years, Astro Bob: May, a merry month to stargaze. Siblings. The Midwest Medical Examiners Office later identified the body as Balsimo, the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension said in a news release on Monday. have been charged in connection with Balsimos death. Warning: This story contains upsetting details. "I do that reluctantly, because I know it's generally important to be able to serve the community and have a trial where there is a nexus between acts and the community," Cuzzo said. The man Balsimo was last seen with, according to his family, was arrested on unrelated charges June 24 in Douglas County, Wisconsin. Johnson is charged with second-degree first degree murder in Cook County. Fundraiser by Richard Balsimo : Help the family honor Ricky We feel deeply for the Balsimo family. Within the tote was discovered a male human torso with legs, arms and head removed, the documents allege. [1], Basciano died on May 1, 2017, in New York City at the age of 91.[6]. Vlieger also asked the judge to ban speculation and conjecture about Balsimos past specifically the alleged stabbing that took place just days before his death. The witness said the other man appeared nervous about something being discovered that he had in his vehicle and told the witness, please dont make me tell you what I have on me. The witness later observed bullet holes in the passenger seat of the mans vehicle. That trial, spanning multiple weeks, required summoning dozens of potential jurors to the Cook County Courthouse. / CBS Minnesota. According to the complaint, West confessed Friday to concocting the plan to get rid of Balsimos remains and to helping the alleged killer dismember him. APS president Terch expressed his staffs condolences to their clients. Please enter valid email address to continue. The article has been corrected. The witness and West caravanned in separate vehicles to Grand Portage, Minnesota. A Minnesota man said he was dumping his grandmas valuables in Lake Superior. Despite this, Vlieger maintained that these accounts do not meet the onus of making a self-defense claim. The Midwest Medical Examiners Office says 34-year-old Richard Anthony Balsimo died of homicidal violence. He always made sure we knew he was OK.. The witness asked West if he was paranoid, to which he responded, "Ya, with a dead body in the back," the complaint said. Prosecutors have already secured cooperation with a defendant who is expected to receive a suspended sentence in exchange for providing information likely to make her a key witness in Johnson and Wests trials. Furthermore, transporting the body north for several hours, dismembering it, discarding the evidence surrounding the shooting and dumping his body in Lake Superior belies the notion of self-defense. On July 15, the Balsimo family and APS detectives were present when the BCA recovered Balsimos remains from Lake Superior. Turner was critical of the response her family received when they first reported Balsimo missing. On Friday, while being held on unrelated charges in Douglas County, Wis., West confessed to helping dismember the body of Richard Anthony Balsimo and hatching a
Flea Markets That Sell Puppies Near Me, Police Department Mugshots, Articles R