MANDAN

Review: 'Mandan Murders' delivers thorough, emotionally complex account of RJR Maintenance tragedy

Trisha Taurinskas — Mon, 18 Dec 2023 14:26:04 GMT

MANDAN, N.D. — The Mandan Murders is about more than a crime that took the lives of four innocent people on an April morning in North Dakota.

The most recent season of the "Dakota Spotlight" true crime investigative podcast from Forum Communications Co. takes listeners on a journey through the complexities of the human experience when faced with the ultimate tragedy.

The nine-part series centers around the four people who were murdered as they began their workday at RJR Maintenance and Management Company in Mandan.

Get "Dakota Spotlight" on your favorite podcast app:

Apple | Spotify | Google

In addition to examining the investigation into the tragedy, "Dakota Spotlight" host James Wolner tosses the true crime playbook aside and dives into the many facets of grief — from those whose loved ones were taken by the hands of a killer, and from those whose loved one killed.

Through the eyes of those who knew them best, memories of Robert Fakler, Adam Fuehrer and William and Lois Cobb are woven throughout the storyline with heartwarming and, at times, heart-wrenching interviews with children, co-workers, parents and friends.

This season explores who the victims were before their lives were taken — and how the loss of their lives forever shaped the existence of so many within the tight-knit community of Mandan, and beyond.

This season also provides exclusive interviews with the family of the convicted killer, Chad Isaak.

For the first time, Isaak's mother and sisters speak out.

With tremendous detail, each woman shares her experience, from the moment they learned about the killings at RJR.

They give insight into their experience grappling with the reality that their son and brother had killed four innocent people.

Listeners are faced with the challenge of juggling, and, perhaps, sharing compassion for all the families who were affected, including those who called the killer their loved one.

Aside from the layers of grief explored, listeners are given access to the intricacies of the investigation.

Through interviews with detectives who worked the case, the hunt for Isaak is brought to life. From the first hours of the manhunt to the questioning, arrest, trial and conviction, listeners are given a front-row seat every step of the way.

Wolner also examines the big question at the heart of this story: Why?

New insight provides possible motivations that have not otherwise been examined publicly. The information does not provide a definitive answer, but it does give the public another angle to try to make sense of it all.

Ultimately, this season is defined by its storytelling. Listeners walk away with critical facts regarding the murders at RJR, yet they're also left with a deeper understanding of how it changed a corner of the world.

Wolner’s delivery leaves room for the listener to reflect not only on the tragedy of the Mandan murders, but also on the topic of grief itself.

Don’t be surprised if this season stirs up deep emotions, as listeners are brought closer and closer to the shoes of each person impacted by the RJR tragedy.

It’s certainly a season that sticks.

"Dakota Spotlight" can also be found wherever you listen to podcasts. ]]>

A murderer's family breaks their silence, to provide answers and seek healing: 'These were nightmare days'

James Wolner — Wed, 29 Nov 2023 13:31:00 GMT

MANDAN, North Dakota — Four and a half years after the crimes, family members of convicted murderer Chad Isaak have broken their silence.

In an open letter, narrated by Isaak's mother and sisters for Forum Communication Co.'s Dakota Spotlight podcast, the family express a desire to help answer lingering questions and assist with healing and closure for all involved – including themselves.

"We in no way want to take away from the victims or their families by sharing about Chad and our journey," the letter states, before continuing.

Isaak killed Adam Fuehrer, Robert Fakler, Lois Cobb and William Cobb at their place of employment, RJR Maintenance & Management on April 1, 2019 in Mandan, North Dakota. He took his own life in prison in July 2022.

Isaak's refusal to confess or explain his actions have left family members of the victims and the community to speculate on the motive for the horrific quadruple homicide.

Also in this episode of "The Mandan Murders," podcast host James Wolner delves further into Isaak's life in pursuit of answers.

Listen to Episode 9 of The Mandan Murders

Get Dakota Spotlight on your favorite podcast app

: Apple | Spotify | Google

Gallery - Browse with arrow on right

Photo gallery - Dakota Spotlight Season 9

Mandan police officers outside of RJR on April 1, 2019

Jamie Binstock, left, consoles her mother, Jackie Fakler, during a press conference at RJR Maintenance and Management in Mandan on Friday afternoon. Fakler, the RJR owner, spoke about a jury earlier in the day convicting Chad Isaak of killing her husband, Robert Fakler, along with three RJR employees, Adam Fuehrer and Bill and Lois Cobb, on April 1, 2019. In the background are RJR employees who Jackie Fakler said were her "family." The photographs in the back are of, clockwise from top left, Bill Cobb, Robert Fakler, Lois Cobb and Fuehrer. Tom Stromme / The Bismarck Tribune.

Robert Fakler was born on February 20, 1967, in Dickinson, ND and grew up in Williston, ND. He enjoyed the outdoors, hunting, fishing, and anything dealing with agriculture.

As a child, with no money available to him, Adam Fuehrer constructed this simple Mother's Day gift — a missel launcher — for his step-mother Shirley. His friends and loved-ones describe Adam as a quiet, private man who loved his family and cared for others.

Bill Cobb proposed to Amy on the steps of Graceland, home of Elvis Presley.

Assistant Morton County State’s Attorney Gabrielle Goter on Thursday gives her closing argument to the jury in the trial of Chad Isaak, who is accused of killing four people at RJR Maintenance and Management in Mandan on April 1, 2019. Tom Stromme / The Bismarck Tribune.

William Cobb once entertained as an Elvis Presley impersonator. He was murdered on April 1, 2019 alongside his wife Lois Cobb. His friends and colleauges Adam Fuehrer and Robert Fakler were also killed.

Security video footage in Center, North Dakota captured the suspect traveling north.

A still image from the RJR surveillance camera.

Chad Isaak was apprehended for questioning and then arrested on April 4, 2019 for the murders of four RJR employees in Mandan.

About Dakota Spotlight, Season 9 — The Mandan Murders

On April 1, 2019, police responded to a suspicious incident at RJR Maintenance and Management in Mandan, North Dakota. There, they found four people viciously murdered, and the murderer at large. The crimes stunned and astounded the community and sent shock waves of terror across the prairie.

Authorities soon arrested a local chiropractor named Chad Isaak, who was later sentenced to life in prison for the cold-blooded killings. Isaak refused to admit guilt or provide any motive. He took his own life at the North Dakota State Penitentiary on July 31, 2022.

In Season 9 of the Dakota Spotlight true crime investigative podcast, host James Wolner will re-examine this recent case. His exploration is a personal one: He was working in Mandan at the time of the murders and joined the first police press conference, his first step into true-crime podcasting journalism.

Follow along as Wolner re-examines the morning of the murders, the hunt for the killer, his arrest and trial. He’ll seek to better understand the case and the killer’s motive, and remember the lives of those slain.

People in this episode Joe Arenz: Special agent with the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation. Arens was the lead investigator and worked on the case for two years. Jamie Binstock: Robert Fakler's daughter. A resident of South Heart, North Dakota at the time, she received a call from her mother Jackie Fakler who said she thought Robert had had a heart attack at RJR. Jamie and her husband packed up their kids and headed to Mandan where later that evening they all learned that Robert had been murdered. Also killed were Lois Cobb, William Cobb and Adam Fuehrer. Amy Cobb: William Cobb's adult daughter of Springfield, Illinois. Amy was at work when she received a call from her step-sister, Briann Miller – Lois Cobb's daughter – wondering if she'd heard from their parents. Social media and friends were contacting Briann about something going on at RJR where their parents both worked. Lois Cobb: An employee at RJR and wife of William Cobb, she was killed on April 1, 2019. William Cobb: An employee at RJR and husband of Lois Cobb, he was killed on April 1, 2019. Robert Fakler: Co-owner of RJR with wife Jackie Fakler, he was killed on April 1, 2019. Adam Fuehrer: A technician at RJR, killed on April 1, 2019. Ben Pace: Long-time employee at RJR and friend of all four victims. Gabriel Goter: Morton County assistant state's attorney and lead prosecutor in the trial of Chad Isaak. Pat Haug: Lieutenant at Mandan Police Department who investigated the RJR homicides alongside the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation. Chad Isaak: A 44-year old chiropractor from Washburn, North Dakota, who was found guilty of all four murders at RJR. He hanged himself in prison on July 31, 2022. Justin Krohmer: Detective at the time at the McLean County Sheriff's Office. Recognized the suspect's white pickup truck in the photograph distributed to law enforcement. When he attempted to covertly photograph Chad Isaak's vehicle on the morning of April 4, 2019, he found Chad Isaak staring at him out the window. Briann Miller: Lois Cobb's adult daughter of Springfield, Illinois. Briann received a phone call from a friend in North Dakota who said social media and news outlets were reporting something happening at RJR where Brian's mother and step-father worked. She immediately called her step-sister Amy Cobb (Bill Cobb's daughter). People in previous episodes Tanner Arthaud: Along with Kylan Williams, a Metro Area Ambulance paramedic who received a call for a possible cardiac arrest at RJR. They soon discovered multiple puncture wounds on Robert Fakler's chest and asked police on scene to see if the scene was safe. Jackie Fakler: Robert Fakler's wife and co-owner of RJR. Jackie arrived at RJR to discover ambulance personnel tending to Robert and police officers ushering people out of the building. She called her daughter Jamie and told her she thought Robert was having a heart attack. Melissa Fuehrer: Widow of RJR Maintenance & Management victim Adam Fuehrer. Adam and Melissa had two sons together. Natasha Towne: Adam Fuehrer's sister. Scott Towne: Adam Fuehrer's brother-in-law. John Henry: Second Mandan patrol officer to arrive at RJR. He noted blood droplets that seemed out of place and then searched the building. He discovered the bodies of Lois Cobb and Bill Cobb in an office area and Adam Fuehrer behind a workbench in the shop. Susan Krohmer: Justin Krohmer's mother. Susan had an appointment at Chad Isaak's chiropractic clinic on the day he was arrested. Law enforcement used the knowledge of this appointment to anticipate when Isaak would leave his residence and plan for the detainment. Wade Krohmer: Justin Krohmer's father and captain at the time at the McLean County Sheriff's Office. Worked with Justin to compare the photographs of Chad Isaak's vehicle with the photograph distributed to law enforcement. Aaron Matties: Detective at the McLean County Sheriff's Office. Aaron assisted Justin Krohmer in getting photographs of Isaak's vehicle, which ultimately led to his detainment and arrest. Curt Olson: Patrol sergeant at the McLean County Sheriff's Office. One of many officers to assist with the detainment of Chad Isaak. Garrett Stepp: Third police officer to arrive on scene. He helped officers Henry and Tessness search and secure the building. Later he secured Bill Cobb's missing vehicle when it was discovered parked at a nearby business. There appeared to be blood smears on the door handle. Bruce Tessness: Mandan Police patrol officer. First police officer to arrive on scene. He immediately began assisting paramedics tending to Robert Fakler. Later he searched the building alongside officers John Henry and Garrett Stepp. Three more bodies were discovered. Andrew Tryhus: Morton County sheriff's deputy. Responded to the scene at RJR where he assisted the Mandan Police Department with several duties. Kylan Williams: Along with Tanner Arthaud, a Metro Area Ambulance paramedic who received a call for a possible cardiac arrest at RJR. They soon discovered multiple puncture wounds on Robert Fakler's chest and asked police on scene to see if the scene was safe. Jason Ziegler: Chief of the Mandan Police Department, who fielded questions in the wake of the April 1, 2019 murders at RJR Maintenance and Management.
]]>

Remembering two of the lives cut short in the 2019 Mandan mass murder

James Wolner — Wed, 15 Nov 2023 13:31:00 GMT

Get Dakota Spotlight on your favorite podcast app

: Apple | Spotify | Google

MANDAN, North Dakota — Adam Fuehrer was a service technician at RJR Maintenance & Management. His employer, Robert Fakler owned and ran the business.

Both men were resourceful, early risers. Both had families. One was shy, the other was stern.

On April 1, 2019, they were both murdered in cold blood. They died 20 feet apart inside the RJR facilities. Minutes earlier, killer Chad Isaak had also killed two of their friends and co-workers, Bill and Lois Cobb.

In episode 7 of Dakota Spotlight's podcast series “The Mandan Murders,” family and friends offer a personal and inside look at Adam Fuehrer and Robert Fakler.

Listen to Episode 7 of The Mandan Murders

Adam Fuehrer came across a shy man. He was "someone you had to get to know," according to his sister Natasha Towne. A father of two teenage sons, Adam was known to be thrifty and resourceful. He didn't waste food or money and if something broke, he felt he could fix it himself.

As a young child, Adam and his sister were placed in several foster homes. "Our parents weren't really around," Towne said. Sometimes food was scarce.

As an adult, family and togetherness were very important to Adam. He enjoyed providing for his family and cooking at extended family gatherings. And when the food was done, he wanted everyone to join in. "He always wanted everyone together," his brother-in-law Scott Towne said.

When Adam wasn't working or cooking, he might be found fishing or in front of the television watching his favorite show, “M*A*S*H.”

Robert Fakler was a businessman and an avid outdoorsman. Described by his daughter Jamie Binstock as an "entrepreneur," Robert Fakler was a problem-solver in constant motion, always working towards his future goals.

As young adults, Robert and his wife, Jackie, saved for years working toward their dream of someday operating a small farm. "They worked as a team," Binstock says. The hard work paid off. In 2005 the Faklers bought land near Baldwin, North Dakota, just north of Bismarck, where they raised cattle, chickens and horses.

Fakler was known to be stern and direct with people and he let people know if he was disappointed with them. His anger was short-lived, however. Robert preferred a world where nobody held a grudge. He often circled back and checked in with those he had been curt with. "You got the phone call afterwards explaining that he believes in you," recalls long-time RJR employee Ben Pace.

Binstock first witnessed a softer side of her father's personality during the last two years of his life, possibly sparked by health issues and thoughts of his own mortality. His seven grandchildren and a strong friendship with his son-in-law likely also contributed to the change.

Binstock and her mother, Jackie Fakler, still operate RJR to this day. She says her father would have wanted them to. "You have to live the life they would have wanted you to."

About Dakota Spotlight, Season 9 — The Mandan Murders

On April 1, 2019, police responded to a suspicious incident at RJR Maintenance & Management in Mandan, North Dakota. There, they found four people viciously murdered, and the murderer at large. The crimes stunned and astounded the community and sent shock waves of terror across the prairie.

Gallery - Browse with arrow on right

Photo gallery - Dakota Spotlight Season 9

Adam Fuehrer was born in Sunnyvale, CA, October 13, 1976. He married Melissa Peterson July 3, 2003, and two children were born to this union, James Allan and Jared Anton John. He loved working on cars, cooking, camping, and fishing. He loved watching Clint Eastwood movies, and enjoyed a cold beer. He also loved music, especially Pink Floyd. He often attended get-togethers with his family and friends

William Cobb, Robert Fakler, Lois Cobb and Adam Fuehrer, all employees of RJR Maintanence and Management, were murdered on April 1, 2019.

Adam Fuehrer (left) and Robert Fakler were both murdered on April 1, 2019. In episode 7 of Dakota Spotlight's podcast The Mandan Murders, friends and loved-ones share their memories of Adam and Robert.

As seen in this still image from RJR surveillance video, Chad Isaak went to great lengths to hide his identity donning a ski mask, gloves and hooded sweatshirt. Investigators found an orange sweatshirt, a skimask as well as a knife in his washing machine when they searched his home three days later. Investigators reported a strong smell of bleach when they entered the home.

Morton County prosecutor Gabrielle Goter, center, speaks with reporters following the conviction of Chad Isaak on Friday in the April 1, 2019, quadruple homicides at RJR Maintenance and Management in Mandan. Others are, from left, lead investigator Joe Arenz, with prosecutors Austin Gunderson and Karlei Neufeld. Tom Stromme / The Bismarck Tribune

Jackie Fakler fights back tears as she talks about the slaying of her husband, Robert Fakler during her testimony at the murder trial of Chad Isaak on Wednesday at the Morton County Courthouse in Mandan. Isaak is on trial in the killing of four people on April 1, 2019, at the RJR Maintenance and Management building in Mandan. Mike McCleary / The Bismarck Tribune.

People in this episode Jamie Binstock: Robert Fakler's daughter. A resident of South Heart, North Dakota at the time, she received a call from her mother Jackie Fakler who said she thought Robert had had a heart attack at RJR. Jamie and her husband packed up their kids and headed to Mandan where later that evening they all learned that Robert had been murdered. Also killed were Lois Cobb, William Cobb and Adam Fuehrer. Jackie Fakler: Robert Fakler's wife and co-owner of RJR. Jackie arrived at RJR to discover ambulance personnel tending to Robert and police officers ushering people out of the building. She called her daughter Jamie and told her she thought Robert was having a heart attack. Robert Fakler: Co-owner of RJR with wife Jackie Fakler, he was killed on April 1, 2019. Adam Fuehrer: A technician at RJR, killed on April 1, 2019. Melissa Fuehrer: Widow of RJR Maintenance & Management victim Adam Fuehrer. Adam and Melissa had two sons together. Ben Pace: Long-time employee at RJR and friend of all four victims. Natasha Towne: Adam Fuehrer's sister. Scott Towne: Adam Fuehrer's brother-in-law.

People in previous episodes Joe Arenz: Special agent with the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation. Arens was the lead investigator and worked on the case for two years. Tanner Arthaud: Along with Kylan Williams, a Metro Area Ambulance paramedic who received a call for a possible cardiac arrest at RJR. They soon discovered multiple puncture wounds on Robert Fakler's chest and asked police on scene to see if the scene was safe. Amy Cobb: William Cobb's adult daughter of Springfield, Illinois. Amy was at work when she received a call from her step-sister, Briann Miller – Lois Cobb's daughter – wondering if she'd heard from their parents. Social media and friends were contacting Briann about something going on at RJR where their parents both worked. Lois Cobb: An employee at RJR and wife of William Cobb, she was killed on April 1, 2019. William Cobb: An employee at RJR and husband of Lois Cobb, he was killed on April 1, 2019. Gabriel Goter: Morton County assistant state's attorney and lead prosecutor in the trial of Chad Isaak. Pat Haug: Lieutenant at Mandan Police Department who investigated the RJR homicides alongside the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation. John Henry: Second Mandan patrol officer to arrive at RJR. He noted blood droplets that seemed out of place and then searched the building. He discovered the bodies of Lois Cobb and Bill Cobb in an office area and Adam Fuehrer behind a workbench in the shop. Chad Isaak: A 44-year old chiropractor from Washburn, North Dakota, who was found guilty of all four murders at RJR. He hanged himself in prison on July 31, 2022. Briann Miller: Lois Cobb's adult daughter of Springfield, Illinois. Briann received a phone call from a friend in North Dakota who said social media and news outlets were reporting something happening at RJR where Brian's mother and step-father worked. She immediately called her step-sister Amy Cobb (Bill Cobb's daughter). Garrett Stepp: Third police officer to arrive on scene. He helped officers Henry and Tessness search and secure the building. Later he secured Bill Cobb's missing vehicle when it was discovered parked at a nearby business. There appeared to be blood smears on the door handle. Bruce Tessness: Mandan Police patrol officer. First police officer to arrive on scene. He immediately began assisting paramedics tending to Robert Fakler. Later he searched the building alongside officers John Henry and Garrett Stepp. Three more bodies were discovered. Andrew Tryhus: Morton County sheriff's deputy. Responded to the scene at RJR where he assisted the Mandan Police Department with several duties. Kylan Williams: Along with Tanner Arthaud, a Metro Area Ambulance paramedic who received a call for a possible cardiac arrest at RJR. They soon discovered multiple puncture wounds on Robert Fakler's chest and asked police on scene to see if the scene was safe. Jason Ziegler: Chief of the Mandan Police Department, who fielded questions in the wake of the April 1, 2019 murders at RJR Maintenance and Management.]]>

Before the slaying, a life of family, hard work, laughter ... and Elvis

James Wolner — Wed, 08 Nov 2023 13:20:00 GMT

MANDAN, North Dakota — Before the day they were slain, April 1, 2019, Bill and Lois Cobb had a lot going right.

They were happy together, they had just built their dream house out in the country, and they were the center of a loving family.

All that was taken away that morning, after they arrived to their workplace, RJR Maintenance & Management. The Cobbs were two of the four killed by Chad Isaak that day, along with Robert Fakler and Adam Fuehrer.

In this episode of Dakota Spotlight, the podcast turns to family and friends to learn more about Bill and Lois Cobb, two of the victims of that fateful day.

Bill Cobb had a reputation as a hard working straight-shooter, a Army veteran with a military man's sense of structure. But he also had a soft side — he was described as a "teddy bear" and a "giant goofball."

He also loved Elvis Presley and his music. His daughter recalled his Sunday morning tradition of playing Elvis gospel music loud enough to fill the house as he made breakfast. Bill proposed to Lois, his wife, on the steps of Elvis' Graceland and they married in 2010. They had a dog named Presley. And tough-love Bill was also an Elvis impersonator. He could croon to beat The King himself.

Lois Cobb was known for being a ray of sunshine, a mother to not just her children but others, including a co-worker who affectionately called her "Mama Lolo."

She was happy, enjoyed cooking, baking and was in a loving relationship with Bill.

But oh, there was that laugh. An unforgettable laugh that filled the room and lit joy and laughter in others.

Listen to Episode 6 of The Mandan Murders

Get Dakota Spotlight on your favorite podcast app

: Apple | Spotify | Google

About Dakota Spotlight, Season 9 — The Mandan Murders

Gallery - Browse with arrow on right

Photo gallery - Dakota Spotlight Season 9

Bill Cobb proposed to Amy on the steps of Graceland, home of Elvis Presley.

William Cobb, Robert Fakler, Lois Cobb and Adam Fuehrer, all employees of RJR Maintanence and Management, were murdered on April 1, 2019.

People in this episode Amy Cobb: William Cobb's adult daughter of Springfield, Illinois. Amy was at work when she received a call from her step-sister, Briann Miller – Lois Cobb's daughter – wondering if she'd heard from their parents. Social media and friends were contacting Briann about something going on at RJR where their parents both worked. Lois Cobb: An employee at RJR and wife of William Cobb, she was killed on April 1, 2019. William Cobb: An employee at RJR and husband of Lois Cobb, he was killed on April 1, 2019. Briann Miller: Lois Cobb's adult daughter of Springfield, Illinois. Briann received a phone call from a friend in North Dakota who said social media and news outlets were reporting something happening at RJR where Brian's mother and step-father worked. She immediately called her step-sister Amy Cobb (Bill Cobb's daughter). Ben Pace: Long-time employee at RJR and friend of all four victims.

People in previous episodes Joe Arenz: Special agent with the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation. Arens was the lead investigator and worked on the case for two years. Tanner Arthaud: Along with Kylan Williams, a Metro Area Ambulance paramedic who received a call for a possible cardiac arrest at RJR. They soon discovered multiple puncture wounds on Robert Fakler's chest and asked police on scene to see if the scene was safe. Jamie Binstock: Robert Fakler's daughter. A resident of South Heart, North Dakota at the time, she received a call from her mother Jackie Fakler who said she thought Robert had had a heart attack at RJR. Jamie and her husband packed up their kids and headed to Mandan where later that evening they all learned that Robert had been murdered. Also killed were Lois Cobb, William Cobb and Adam Fuehrer. Jackie Fakler: Robert Fakler's wife and co-owner of RJR. Jackie arrived at RJR to discover ambulance personnel tending to Robert and police officers ushering people out of the building. She called her daughter Jamie and told her she thought Robert was having a heart attack. Robert Fakler: Co-owner of RJR with wife Jackie Fakler, he was killed on April 1, 2019. Adam Fuehrer: A technician at RJR, killed on April 1, 2019. Melissa Fuehrer: Widow of RJR Maintenance & Management victim Adam Fuehrer. Adam and Melissa had two sons together. Gabriel Goter: Morton County assistant state's attorney and lead prosecutor in the trial of Chad Isaak. Pat Haug: Lieutenant at Mandan Police Department who investigated the RJR homicides alongside the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation. John Henry: Second Mandan patrol officer to arrive at RJR. He noted blood droplets that seemed out of place and then searched the building. He discovered the bodies of Lois Cobb and Bill Cobb in an office area and Adam Fuehrer behind a workbench in the shop. Chad Isaak: A 44-year old chiropractor from Washburn, North Dakota, who was found guilty of all four murders at RJR. He hanged himself in prison on July 31, 2022. Garrett Stepp: Third police officer to arrive on scene. He helped officers Henry and Tessness search and secure the building. Later he secured Bill Cobb's missing vehicle when it was discovered parked at a nearby business. There appeared to be blood smears on the door handle. Bruce Tessness: Mandan Police patrol officer. First police officer to arrive on scene. He immediately began assisting paramedics tending to Robert Fakler. Later he searched the building alongside officers John Henry and Garrett Stepp. Three more bodies were discovered. Andrew Tryhus: Morton County sheriff's deputy. Responded to the scene at RJR where he assisted the Mandan Police Department with several duties. Chief of Police Jason Ziegler: Chief of the Mandan Police Department, who fielded questions in the wake of the April 1, 2019 murders at RJR Maintenance and Management. Kylan Williams: Along with Tanner Arthaud, a Metro Area Ambulance paramedic who received a call for a possible cardiac arrest at RJR. They soon discovered multiple puncture wounds on Robert Fakler's chest and asked police on scene to see if the scene was safe.]]>

They were sure they had captured a local mass murderer. Now, what would he tell them?

Jeremy Fugleberg — Wed, 01 Nov 2023 12:32:00 GMT

MANDAN, North Dakota — They felt sure they had their man.

Law enforcement had just arrested Chad Isaak, a local chiropractor, after a tip from a sharp-eyed sheriff's deputy who was one of Isaak's patients. Now, they had Isaak detained, sitting in a corner of a small, white-walled interview room at the Mclean County Sheriff's Office in Washburn, North Dakota, population 1,298.

Isaak was wearing a red sweater and dark blue jeans, and was shoeless, wearing white cotton socks. In front of him was a bottle of water.

For law enforcement, this was their first crack at someone they strongly suspected had killed four people at a RJR Maintenance & Management in Mandan, North Dakota, just a few days before.

If so, this man wasn't just a mild-mannered local chiropractor, he was a mass murderer. And everything he said could be crucial evidence for the trial ahead.

Listen to Episode 5 of The Mandan Murders

Get Dakota Spotlight on your favorite podcast app

: Apple | Spotify | Google

In this episode of Dakota Spotlight, a playback of the crucial first interview of Chad Isaak by law enforcement on April 4, 2019, just three days after the horrific quadruple homicide in Mandan, North Dakota. The interview was edited only remove breaks and stretches of silence in the long interview day.

Gallery - Browse with arrow on right

The surveillance camera at RJR caught the suspect, later identified as Chad Isaak, as he moved throughout the building. The murders took place over a span of 22 minutes; due to placement of cameras, the killings were not captured on video.

RJR's exterior video camera's caught the hooded assailant entering and exiting the building on the early morning hours of April 1, 2019. All four murders occurred within 22 minutes.

Surveillance cameras at nearby business Big O Tires captured vital footage of a man walking from McDonald's restaurant towards RJR maintanence and managment where four people were found murdered on the morning of April 1, 2019

Chad Isaak, convicted of killing four people at RJR Maintenance & Management in Mandan, North Dakota, on April 1, 2019 is shown in trial evidence security camera footage from that morning. (Courtesy / Morton County Clerk of Courts)

With footage from multiple exterior surveillance cameras at many businesses, investigators were able to track Chad Isaak's movements after the murders at RJR all the way to his home town of Washburn.

Chad Isaak was apprehended for questioning and then arrested on April 4, 2019 for the murders of four RJR employees in Mandan.

About Dakota Spotlight, Season 9 — The Mandan Murders

People in this episode Joe Arenz: Special agent with the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation. Arens was the lead investigator and worked on the case for two years. Gabriel Goter: Morton County assistant state's attorney and lead prosecutor in the trial of Chad Isaak. Pat Haug: Lieutenant at Mandan Police Department who investigated the RJR homicides alongside the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation. Chad Isaak: A 44-year old chiropractor from Washburn, North Dakota, who was found guilty of all four murders at RJR. He hanged himself in prison on July 31, 2022.

People in previous episodes Tanner Arthaud: Along with Kylan Williams, a Metro Area Ambulance paramedic who received a call for a possible cardiac arrest at RJR. They soon discovered multiple puncture wounds on Robert Fakler's chest and asked police on scene to see if the scene was safe. Jamie Binstock: Robert Fakler's daughter. A resident of South Heart, North Dakota at the time, she received a call from her mother Jackie Fakler who said she thought Robert had had a heart attack at RJR. Jamie and her husband packed up their kids and headed to Mandan where later that evening they all learned that Robert had been murdered. Also killed were Lois Cobb, William Cobb and Adam Fuehrer. Amy Cobb: William Cobb's adult daughter of Springfield, Illinois. Amy was at work when she received a call from her step-sister, Briann Miller – Lois Cobb's daughter – wondering if she'd heard from their parents. Social media and friends were contacting Briann about something going on at RJR where their parents both worked. Lois Cobb: An employee at RJR and wife of William Cobb, she was killed on April 1, 2019. William Cobb: An employee at RJR and husband of Lois Cobb, he was killed on April 1, 2019. Jackie Fakler: Robert Fakler's wife and co-owner of RJR. Jackie arrived at RJR to discover ambulance personnel tending to Robert and police officers ushering people out of the building. She called her daughter Jamie and told her she thought Robert was having a heart attack. Robert Fakler: Co-owner of RJR with wife Jackie Fakler, he was killed on April 1, 2019. Adam Fuehrer: A technician at RJR, killed on April 1, 2019. Melissa Fuehrer: Widow of RJR Maintenance & Management victim Adam Fuehrer. Adam and Melissa had two sons together. John Henry: Second Mandan patrol officer to arrive at RJR. He noted blood droplets that seemed out of place and then searched the building. He discovered the bodies of Lois Cobb and Bill Cobb in an office area and Adam Fuehrer behind a workbench in the shop. Briann Miller: Lois Cobb's adult daughter of Springfield, Illinois. Briann received a phone call from a friend in North Dakota who said social media and news outlets were reporting something happening at RJR where Brian's mother and step-father worked. She immediately called her step-sister Amy Cobb (Bill Cobb's daughter). Garrett Stepp: Third police officer to arrive on scene. He helped officers Henry and Tessness search and secure the building. Later he secured Bill Cobb's missing vehicle when it was discovered parked at a nearby business. There appeared to be blood smears on the door handle. Bruce Tessness: Mandan Police patrol officer. First police officer to arrive on scene. He immediately began assisting paramedics tending to Robert Fakler. Later he searched the building alongside officers John Henry and Garrett Stepp. Three more bodies were discovered. Andrew Tryhus: Morton County sheriff's deputy. Responded to the scene at RJR where he assisted the Mandan Police Department with several duties. Chief of Police Jason Ziegler: Chief of the Mandan Police Department, who fielded questions in the wake of the April 1, 2019 murders at RJR Maintenance and Management. Kylan Williams: Along with Tanner Arthaud, a Metro Area Ambulance paramedic who received a call for a possible cardiac arrest at RJR. They soon discovered multiple puncture wounds on Robert Fakler's chest and asked police on scene to see if the scene was safe.]]>

He was a local chiropractor. Then one of his patients realizes he might be a wanted killer.

James Wolner — Wed, 25 Oct 2023 12:31:00 GMT

Editor's note: This is Part 4 article of

The Mandan Murders,

season 9 of the

Dakota Spotlight podcast.

here for Part 1, here for Part 2

and

here for Part 3

WASHBURN, North Dakota — In 2019, Justin Krohmer was a detective for the McLean County Sheriff's department 40 miles north of Mandan where the RJR murders took place on April 1, 2019.

When Mandan police circulated a photograph of the suspect's vehicle and asked all law enforcement to be on the lookout, Krohmer thought the white Ford F-150 pickup looked familiar.

It looked a

lot

like the local chiropractor's truck. Krohmer was himself a patient there. And so were his parents, Wade and Susan.

On the early morning of April 4, three days after the murders, Krohmer quietly walked into the neighborhood where Isaak lived and snapped a couple of photographs.

Back at the sheriff's office, they compared photos.

Minutes later, dozens of law enforcement officers were headed to Washburn. The mission: Detain chiropractor Chad Isaak.

Listen to Episode 4 of The Mandan Murders

Get Dakota Spotlight on your favorite podcast app

: Apple | Spotify | Google

Gallery - Browse with arrow on right

Photo gallery - Dakota Spotlight Season 9

Chad Isaak was apprehended for questioning and then arrested on April 4, 2019 for the murders of four RJR employees in Mandan.

Security video footage in Center, North Dakota captured the suspect traveling north.

Despite incredible evidence against him, Chad Isaak never admitted to anything nor acknowledged his guilt. At his sentencing he stated that the only thing he wanted to say was that he was not a murderer.

State's evidence photo in the trial of Chad Isaak connecting fibers between the sweatshirt found in Chad Isaak's home those found on the victims

When they searched his home, investigators found a knife in his washing machine.

The victims of the RJR homicides were stabbed and shot. Investigators found a knife in Chad Isaak's washing machine as well as ammunition. They also found empty shell casings seemingly hidden in a sock.

When they searched Chad Isaak's home on April 4, 2019 investigators found several items in his washing machine: A reversible ski mask (orange/camouflage), an orange sweatshirt, a knife and black shoes. Video footage from RJR showed a man in an orange sweatshirt, orange ski mask and black shoes entering and exiting the facilities soon after the arrival of Lois and Bill Cobb. The same individual left the building 2 minutes after Adam Fuehrer and Robert Fakler arrived.

About Dakota Spotlight, Season 9 — The Mandan Murders

People in this episode Joe Arenz: Special agent with the North Dakota Bureau of Investigations. Arens was the lead investigator and worked on the case for two years. Gabriel Goter: Morton County assistant state's attorney and lead prosecutor in the trial of Chad Isaak. Justin Krohmer: Detective at the time at the McLean County Sheriff's Office. Recognized the suspect's white pickup truck in the photograph distributed to law enforcement. When he attempted to covertly photograph Chad Isaak's vehicle on the morning of April 4, 2019, he found Chad Isaak staring at him out the window. Susan Krohmer: Justin Krohmer's mother. Susan had an appointment at Chad Isaak's chiropractic clinic on the day he was arrested. Law enforcement used the knowledge of this appointment to anticipate when Isaak would leave his residence and plan for the detainment. Wade Krohmer: Justin Krohmer's father and captain at the time at the McLean County Sheriff's Office. Worked with Justin to compare the photographs of Chad Isaak's vehicle with the photograph distributed to law enforcement. Aaron Matties: Detective at the McLean County Sheriff's Office. Aaron assisted Justin Krohmer in getting photographs of Isaak's vehicle, which ultimately led to his detainment and arrest. Curt Olson: Patrol sergeant at the McLean County Sheriff's Office. One of many officers to assist with the detainment of Chad Isaak. People in previous episodes Tanner Arthaud: Along with Kylan Williams, a Metro Area Ambulance paramedic who received a call for a possible cardiac arrest at RJR. They soon discovered multiple puncture wounds on Robert Fakler's chest and asked police on scene to see if the scene was safe. Jamie Binstock: Robert Fakler's daughter. A resident of South Heart, North Dakota at the time, she received a call from her mother Jackie Fakler who said she thought Robert had had a heart attack at RJR. Jamie and her husband packed up their kids and headed to Mandan where later that evening they all learned that Robert had been murdered. Also killed were Lois Cobb, William Cobb and Adam Fuehrer. Amy Cobb: William Cobb's adult daughter of Springfield, Illinois. Amy was at work when she received a call from her step-sister, Briann Miller – Lois Cobb's daughter – wondering if she'd heard from their parents. Social media and friends were contacting Briann about something going on at RJR where their parents both worked. Lois Cobb: An employee at RJR and wife of William Cobb, she was killed on April 1, 2019. William Cobb: An employee at RJR and husband of Lois Cobb, he was killed on April 1, 2019. Jackie Fakler: Robert Fakler's wife and co-owner of RJR. Jackie arrived at RJR to discover ambulance personnel tending to Robert and police officers ushering people out of the building. She called her daughter Jamie and told her she thought Robert was having a heart attack. Robert Fakler: Co-owner of RJR with wife Jackie Fakler, he was killed on April 1, 2019. Adam Fuehrer: A technician at RJR, killed on April 1, 2019. Melissa Fuehrer: Widow of RJR Maintenance & Management victim Adam Fuehrer. Adam and Melissa had two sons together. Gabriel Goter: Morton County assistant state's attorney and lead prosecutor in the trial of Chad Isaak. Pat Haug: Lieutenant at Mandan Police department who investigated the RJR homicides alongside the North Dakota Bureau of investigations. John Henry: Second Mandan patrol officer to arrive at RJR. He noted blood droplets that seemed out of place and then searched the building. He discovered the bodies of Lois Cobb and Bill Cobb in an office area and Adam Fuehrer behind a workbench in the shop. Chad Isaak: A 44-year old chiropractor from Washburn, North Dakota, who was found guilty of all four murders at RJR. He hanged himself in prison on July 31, 2022. Briann Miller: Lois Cobb's adult daughter of Springfield, Illinois. Briann received a phone call from a friend in North Dakota who said social media and news outlets were reporting something happening at RJR where Brian's mother and step-father worked. She immediately called her step-sister Amy Cobb (Bill Cobb's daughter). Garrett Stepp: Third police officer to arrive on scene. He helped officers Henry and Tessness search and secure the building. Later he secured Bill Cobb's missing vehicle when it was discovered parked at a nearby business. There appeared to be blood smears on the door handle. Bruce Tessness: Mandan Police patrol officer. First police officer to arrive on scene. He immediately began assisting paramedics tending to Robert Fakler. Later he searched the building alongside officers John Henry and Garrett Stepp. Three more bodies were discovered. Andrew Tryhus: Morton County sheriff's deputy. Responded to the scene at RJR where he assisted the Mandan Police Department with several duties. Chief of Police Jason Ziegler: Chief of the Mandan Police Department, who fielded questions in the wake of the April 1, 2019 murders at RJR Maintenance and Management. Kylan Williams: Along with Tanner Arthaud, a Metro Area Ambulance paramedic who received a call for a possible cardiac arrest at RJR. They soon discovered multiple puncture wounds on Robert Fakler's chest and asked police on scene to see if the scene was safe.]]>

On the track of a mass murderer, the question: Where is that pickup?

Jeremy Fugleberg — Wed, 18 Oct 2023 12:31:00 GMT

Editor's note: This is Part 3 article of

The Mandan Murders,

season 9 of the

Dakota Spotlight podcast.

here for Part 1, here for Part 2

MANDAN, North Dakota — Police knew one thing for sure: The murderer had been inside the building.

There in RJR Maintenance & Management in Mandan, North Dakota, is where someone had killed four people who worked there, the morning of April 1, 2019.

So that's where they started that day, as investigators from the Mandan Police Department and North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation worked through the crime scene and tried to make sense of what happened, and what clues they could find to start hunting the killer.

They quickly noticed security cameras, both inside and outside the business. The footage they quickly recovered from the camera showed the workers arriving that morning, then chilling images of what appeared to be the murder, and then, after the murders, a pickup leaving the scene.

That had to be the killer.

The hunt was on.

Listen to Episode 3 of The Mandan Murders

Get Dakota Spotlight on your favorite podcast app

: Apple | Spotify | Google

In this episode of Dakota Spotlight, host James Wolner interviews investigators as they piece together what happened that day. As family mourn and a community reels in shock, police gather clues, cast a wide dragnet. The quick police work and an incredible coincidence leads them to a startling discovery.

About Dakota Spotlight, Season 9 — The Mandan Murders

Gallery - Browse with arrow on right

Photo gallery - Dakota Spotlight Season 9

Security video footage from BIG O TIRES in Mandan captured the suspect walking back to McDonald's and his vehicle.

Security video footage from McDonald's recorded the suspect leaving in his white pickup.

Security video footage in Center, North Dakota recorded the suspect traveling north.

Security video footage from Flying J truckstop captured the suspect traveling north.

Security video footage in Center, North Dakota captured the suspect traveling north.

Security video cameras at Bill Barth Ford on 'the strip' in Mandan captured the suspect walking towards McDonald's

A still image from the RJR surveillance camera.

People in this episode Melissa Fuehrer: Widow of RJR Maintenance & Management victim Adam Fuehrer. Adam and Melissa had two sons together. Joe Arenz: Special agent with the North Dakota Bureau of Investigations. Arens was the lead investigator and worked on the case for two years. Pat Haug: Lieutenant at Mandan Police department who investigated the RJR homicides alongside the North Dakota Bureau of investigations. John Henry: Second Mandan patrol officer to arrive at RJR. He noted blood droplets that seemed out of place and then searched the building. He discovered the bodies of Lois Cobb and William Cobb in an office area and Adam Fuehrer behind a workbench in the shop. People in previous episodes Tanner Arthaud: Along with Kylan Williams, a Metro Area Ambulance paramedic who received a call for a possible cardiac arrest at RJR. They soon discovered multiple puncture wounds on Robert Fakler's chest and asked police on scene to see if the scene was safe. Jamie Binstock: Robert Fakler's daughter. A resident of South Heart, North Dakota at the time, she received a call from her mother Jackie Fakler who said she thought Robert had had a heart attack at RJR. Jamie and her husband packed up their kids and headed to Mandan where later that evening they all learned that Robert had been murdered. Also killed were Lois Cobb, William Cobb and Adam Fuehrer. Amy Cobb: William Cobb's adult daughter of Springfield, Illinois. Amy was at work when she received a call from her step-sister, Briann Miller – Lois Cobb's daughter – wondering if she'd heard from their parents. Social media and friends were contacting Briann about something going on at RJR where their parents both worked. Lois Cobb: An employee at RJR and wife of William Cobb, she was killed on April 1, 2019. William Cobb: An employee at RJR and husband of Lois Cobb, he was killed on April 1, 2019. Jackie Fakler: Robert Fakler's wife and co-owner of RJR. Jackie arrived at RJR to discover ambulance personnel tending to Robert and police officers ushering people out of the building. She called her daughter Jamie and told her she thought Robert was having a heart attack. Robert Fakler: Co-owner of RJR with wife Jackie Fakler, he was killed on April 1, 2019. Adam Fuehrer: A technician at RJR, killed on April 1, 2019. Melissa Fuehrer: Widow of RJR Maintenance & Management victim Adam Fuehrer. Adam and Melissa had two sons together. Gabriel Goter: Morton County assistant state's attorney and lead prosecutor in the trial of Chad Isaak. John Henry: Second Mandan patrol officer to arrive at RJR. He noted blood droplets that seemed out of place and then searched the building. He discovered the bodies of Lois Cobb and Bill Cobb in an office area and Adam Fuehrer behind a workbench in the shop. Chad Isaak: A 44-year old chiropractor from Washburn, North Dakota, who was found guilty of all four murders at RJR. He hanged himself in prison on July 31, 2022. Briann Miller: Lois Cobb's adult daughter of Springfield, Illinois. Briann received a phone call from a friend in North Dakota who said social media and news outlets were reporting something happening at RJR where Brian's mother and step-father worked. She immediately called her step-sister Amy Cobb (Bill Cobb's daughter). Garrett Stepp: Third police officer to arrive on scene. He helped officers Henry and Tessness search and secure the building. Later he secured Bill Cobb's missing vehicle when it was discovered parked at a nearby business. There appeared to be blood smears on the door handle. Bruce Tessness: Mandan Police patrol officer. First police officer to arrive on scene. He immediately began assisting paramedics tending to Robert Fakler. Later he searched the building alongside officers John Henry and Garrett Stepp. Three more bodies were discovered. Andrew Tryhus: Morton County sheriff's deputy. Responded to the scene at RJR where he assisted the Mandan Police Department with several duties. Chief of Police Jason Ziegler: Chief of the Mandan Police Department, who fielded questions in the wake of the April 1, 2019 murders at RJR Maintenance and Management. Kylan Williams: Along with Tanner Arthaud, a Metro Area Ambulance paramedic who received a call for a possible cardiac arrest at RJR. They soon discovered multiple puncture wounds on Robert Fakler's chest and asked police on scene to see if the scene was safe.]]>

On a cold Mandan morning, a monstrous crime: 4 slain, killer gone. The hunt was on.

Jeremy Fugleberg — Wed, 11 Oct 2023 12:31:00 GMT

Editor's note: This is Part 2 article of

The Mandan Murders,

season 9 of the

Dakota Spotlight podcast.

Go here for

here for Part 1.

MANDAN, North Dakota — It was cold that morning, April 1, 2019.

Sunrise.

Justin Bockheim had just arrived at work at RJR Maintenance & Management in Mandan, North Dakota, at around 7:20 a.m.

Bockheim was a relatively new employee, a service maintenance technician at the business, which handled management and repair of apartment buildings.

But this morning, something felt off. Where was his boss Bill Cobb's pickup, usually parked outside?

He walked inside the business and saw a coffee cup, spilled.

Then he saw the body.

Listen to Episode 2 of The Mandan Murders

Get Dakota Spotlight on your favorite podcast app

: Apple | Spotify | Google

In the second episode of The Mandan Murders, Season 9 of the Dakota Spotlight podcast, host James Wolner returns to the morning of the murders with a minute-by-minute look at Bockheim's discovery, a 911 call and the ensuing discovery of four murder victims.

As he traces a terrible day, Wolner also interviews many of those involved in responding to the quadruple murder at RJR, including paramedics and law enforcement. He also speaks with family of those killed, as they tell what happened on that fateful day.

About Dakota Spotlight, Season 9 — The Mandan Murders

Gallery - Browse with arrow on right

Photo gallery - Dakota Spotlight Season 9

William Cobb, Robert Fakler, Lois Cobb and Adam Fuehrer, all employees of RJR Maintanence and Management, were murdered on April 1, 2019.

On the morning of the Mandan murders, Bill Cobb's Dodge Ram pickup was missing from the crime scene at RJR.

A still image from the RJR surveillance camera.

Mandan Police Chief Jason Ziegler stated in a press conference that the murders at RJR were something that no community could be fully prepared for.

Mandan police officers outside of RJR on April 1, 2019

BCI forensic evidence truck parked outside in the RJR parking lot on April 1, 2019

A Mandan Police officer securing the area around RJR on April 1, 2019.

Four people were found dead at RJR Maintenance & Management in Mandan, N.D., on Monday, April 1. WDAY photo

People in this episode Jackie Fakler: Robert Fakler's wife and co-owner of RJR Maintenance & Management. Jackie arrived at RJR to discover ambulance personnel tending to Robert and police officers ushering people out of the building. She called her daughter Jamie and told her she thought Robert was having a heart attack. Jamie Binstock: Robert Fakler's daughter. A resident of South Heart, North Dakota at the time, she received a call from her mother Jackie Fakler who said she thought Robert had had a heart attack at RJR. Jamie and her husband packed up their kids and headed to Mandan where later that evening they all learned that Robert had been murdered. Also killed were Lois Cobb, Bill Cobb and Adam Fuehrer. Briann Miller: Lois Cobb's adult daughter of Springfield, Illinois. Briann received a phone call from a friend in North Dakota who said social media and news outlets were reporting something happening at RJR where Brian's mother and step-father worked. She immediately called her step-sister Amy Cobb (Bill Cobb's daughter). Amy Cobb: William Cobb's adult daughter of Springfield, Illinois. Amy was at work when she received a call from her step-sister, Briann Miller – Lois Cobb's daughter – wondering if she'd heard from their parents. Social media and friends were contacting Briann about something going on at RJR where their parents both worked. Tanner Arthaud and Kylan Williams: Metro Area Ambulance paramedics who received a call for a possible cardiac arrest at RJR. They soon discovered multiple puncture wounds on Robert's chest and asked police on scene to see if the scene was safe. Bruce Tessness: Mandan Police patrol officer. First police officer to arrive on scene. He immediately began assisting paramedics tending to Robert Fakler. Later he searched the building alongside officers John Henry and Garrett Stepp. Three more bodies were discovered. John Henry: Second Mandan patrol officer to arrive at RJR. He noted blood droplets that seemed out of place and then searched the building. He discovered the bodies of Lois Cobb and Bill Cobb in an office area and Adam Fuehrer behind a workbench in the shop. Garrett Stepp: Third police officer to arrive on scene. He helped officers Henry and Tessness search and secure the building. Later he secured Bill Cobb's missing vehicle when it was discovered parked at a nearby business. There appeared to be blood smears on the door handle. Andrew Tryhus: Morton County sheriff's deputy. Responded to the scene at RJR where he assisted the Mandan Police Department with several duties. Pat Haug: Lieutenant at Mandan Police department who investigated the RJR homicides alongside the North Dakota Bureau of investigations. Gabriel Goter: Morton County assistant state's attorney and lead prosecutor in the trial of Chad Isaak.

People in previous episodes Chief of Police Jason Ziegler: Chief of the Mandan Police Department, who fielded questions in the wake of the April 1, 2019 murders at RJR Maintenance and Management. Adam Fuehrer: A technician at RJR, killed on April 1, 2019. Robert Fakler: Co-owner of RJR with wife Jackie, he was killed on April 1, 2019. William Cobb: An employee at RJR and husband of Lois Cobb, he was killed on April 1, 2019. Lois Cobb: An employee at RJR and wife of William Cobb, she was killed on April 1, 2019. Chad Isaak: A 44-year old chiropractor from Washburn, North Dakota, who was found guilty of all four murders at RJR. He hanged himself in prison on July 31, 2022.]]>

A personal quest to understand a horrific crime -- 4 killed in one morning, at one business

Jeremy Fugleberg — Wed, 04 Oct 2023 12:59:00 GMT

MANDAN, North Dakota — It was a crime that would send shockwaves across the prairie. And that April morning the news quickly traveled across town: Four people had been found dead at a local business, RJR Maintenance & Management.

The four killed were Robert Fakler, a co-owner of the business, and three employees: Adam Fuehrer, and married couple William Cobb and Lois Cobb.

One of the people who heard the grim news was James Wolner, then working a day job but working at night on his personal project: The Dakota Spotlight podcast — now a Forum Communications Co. production.

Listen to episode one of The Mandan Murders

Get Dakota Spotlight on your favorite podcast app

: Apple | Spotify | Google

But on the day of the murders, then-database engineer Wolner picked up his recording equipment and decided to attend the press conference at Mandan City Hall, where the chief of police would make the first public statement about the murders.

The news was grim. Whoever was responsible for the murders remained at large. But there were clues, and the police chief thanked the public for their help even as he sought any information about that morning.

Gallery - Browse with arrow on right

Photo gallery - Dakota Spotlight Season 9

Mandan Police Chief Jason Ziegler stated in a press conference that the murders at RJR were something that no community could be fully prepared for.

A Mandan Police officer securing the area around RJR on April 1, 2019.

BCI forensic evidence truck parked outside in the RJR parking lot on April 1, 2019

Wolner confirmed there was video footage from the business, unknowingly seeking answers about what would become a crucial part of evidence in the future murders trials of Chad Isaak.

The 44-year-old chiropractor from Washburn, North Dakota was later found guilty of the murders. He ended his own life in prison on July 30, 2022.

In this first episode of the new season of Dakota Spotlight, Wolner traces his own journey as a podcaster and a journalist who has not been able to shake his experiences the day of the murders.

Wolner will preview this new season of the show, in which he'll interview law enforcement about their investigation, talk to family members of those killed, dig through the mountain of evidence presented in court and seek to understand: Why did Isaak commit these crimes?

About Dakota Spotlight, Season 9 — The Mandan Murders

People in this episode Chief of Police Jason Ziegler: Chief of the Mandan Police Department, who fielded questions in the wake of the April 1, 2019 murders at RJR Maintenance and Management. Adam Fuehrer: A technician at RJR, killed on April 1, 2019. Robert Fakler: Co-owner of RJR with wife Jackie, he was killed on April 1, 2019. William Cobb: An employee at RJR and husband of Lois Cobb, he was killed on April 1, 2019. Lois Cobb: An employee at RJR and wife of William Cobb, she was killed on April 1, 2019. Chad Isaak: A 44-year old chiropractor from Washburn, North Dakota, who was found guilty of all four murders at RJR. He hanged himself in prison on July 31, 2022.]]>

Video surveillance led to Mandan murder suspect

Bismarck Tribune — Fri, 05 Apr 2019 21:56:08 GMT

MANDAN, N.D. — Onsite video revealed that a suspect, now identified as Chad Isaak, a chiropractor from Washburn, was in and out of RJR Maintenance & Management early Monday morning in Mandan in less than 15 minutes, according to a report by Tyler J. Henry, an investigating officer with the Mandan Police Department.

According to Henry's affidavit, law enforcement officers were able to follow a video trail of evidence that early on identified a white Ford F-150 as key to the suspect's whereabouts.

The first bit of video belonged to RJR Maintenance & Management and showed the suspect entering the business at 6:47 a.m. Monday and exiting at 7 a.m. Further investigation outside the building revealed that an RJR vehicle was driven from the premises to Indigo Signs, a block away.

Another video showed the suspect walking from the area of Indigo Signs westbound toward Midway Lanes and Bill Barth Ford, where more video helped place the suspect's trail after leaving RJR.

After a tip from a McDonald's employee, whose description of someone getting into a white Ford F-150 fit the suspect, investigators viewed surveillance video showing the Ford truck leaving the McDonald's parking lot and proceeding eastbound on Memorial Highway.

Video at the Ron Lowman car dealership, about two blocks from McDonald's, showed the truck pulling into the lot, turning around and then proceeding westbound on Memorial Highway.

More video gathered from Main Street on Monday morning shows the truck continuing westbound through Mandan.

The vehicle was next spotted on video at the Flying J in Mandan, where Business Loop Interstate 94 merges into Highway 25 North.

In Oliver County, video from two businesses showed the Ford F-150 traveling near Center at about 8:30 a.m. Monday.

At about 9 a.m., video from River Ag, a business in Washburn, shows the vehicle traveling on U.S. Highway 200.

Finally, Deputy Justin Krohmer of the McLean County Sheriff's Office recognized the suspect vehicle on Thursday. Krohmer says he has known Isaak for almost two years and was a patient at the chiropractor's clinic.

]]>