UPDATE: Missing college student in North Dakota...

Culture & Society Forum

GRAND FORKS, North Dakota (CNN) -- The mother of missing college student Dru Sjodin is appealing to the mother of her alleged kidnapper to "please speak to her son" about cooperating with authorities.

"I hope that he will cooperate with the law enforcement and give up Dru, Dru's whereabouts," Linda Walker said Wednesday on CNN's "Paula Zahn Now." "We want her back in our arms."

Suspect Alfonso Rodriguez Jr., 50, a convicted rapist charged with kidnapping the 22-year-old Sjodin, is to appear Thursday at a bond hearing in North Dakota.

At a hearing Wednesday in Crookston, Minnesota, Rodriguez agreed to waive extradition and be moved to Grand Forks.

As he left the courthouse under police escort, a woman ran up to him speaking in Spanish, telling him to inform authorities "where the body is" for the sake of his mother. Rodriguez lived with his mother in Crookston, about 25 miles southeast of Grand Forks, after he was released from prison in May.

Walker told CNN that the family remains optimistic that Sjodin remains alive. She urged Rodriguez's mother and his sister to talk to him "on behalf of all us" about cooperating.

Sjodin, a University of North Dakota student, vanished November 22 after leaving her job at Victoria's Secret at a Grand Forks mall.

"Dru has a very strong spirit, a kind soul and we know that she has the strength and will to survive this situation," Walker said.

"Through the power of love there are many miracles that can happen."

Capt. Michael Kirby of the Grand Forks Police Department said more than 1,700 volunteers searched 400 square miles in two counties Wednesday, and that investigators were following up more than 1,300 leads.

Authorities, he said, were "trying to work real hard to have a good positive end to this."

Asked if police believe Sjodin is still alive, he said, "There's absolutely no reason to believe she may not be."

At the same time, Kirby said authorities are concerned about Rodriguez's violent past and what he could have done to Sjodin. "There's no doubt about that," he said.

Rodriguez is listed as a Category 3 sex offender in Minnesota, considered the most likely to repeat violent crimes. He was released from prison May 1 after completing a 23-year sentence for raping two women and attempting to rape a third. He was not monitored after his release.

Authorities believe Rodriguez was at the shopping mall where Sjodin was last seen leaving work on November 22. Her car, a 1994 red Oldsmobile Cutlass, was found in the mall parking lot.

After his arrest Monday, authorities released a picture of Rodriguez's car, a maroon 2002 Mercury Sable.

Police Sgt. Mike Hedlund said investigators are "still trying to determine exactly what occurred" after 5 p.m. on November 22.

"We're hoping anyone who saw the car that evening will contact us at the tip line," he told reporters at a news conference.

"We are still resolute in the fact that we will find Dru. ... We're going to find her shortly."

The tip line is 701-780-8213.

http://www.finddru.com/Dru7small.jpg

Dru Sjodin disappeared on Nov 22nd, 2003 from Grand Forks North Dakota.

Profile
Name: Dru Sjodin
Height: 5' 7" Weight: 130 pounds
Hair: Frosted Blond Eyes: Blue
Last Seen: She was last seen wearing black slacks, black loafers, a pink and purple V-neck blouse, a black blazer-style jacket and a small black handbag.

Circumstances of Dru's Disappearance
Dru was last seen late Saturday afternoon, as she was leaving the Columbia Mall in Grand Forks where she worked. Her mother, Linda Walker, said her daughter was talking to her boyfriend in Minneapolis on her cell phone about 5 p.m. Saturday when he heard her say, "Oh, my God," before the phone went dead.

The boyfriend called Sjodin's roommate to ask about her after a second call about three hours later that lasted only about a minute, with no conversation. The roommate called police after Sjodin did not show up for her 9 p.m. shift as a waitress in a Grand Forks bar.

Police traced the second call from Sjodin's cell phone to the area near Fisher. Police said the cell phone signal put it within about five miles of the tower near Fisher from about 8 p.m. Saturday until the signal faded out 24 hours later.

Police said Sjodin's red car was found in a Columbia Mall parking lot with a package inside that she apparently had bought at the mall. They found no sign of a struggle.

Here's the website...

http://www.finddru.com/

I wonder what they have on ths guy that makes him a suspect in her disappearance besides his criminal background. Hmmmm...

Security cameras have him on video. I feel so bad for her and her family. I wish he'd just say what he did with her.

Sorry Kris, I had a brainfart

I know SS... I feel so bad for her, her family and friends!! This guy is a maniac, and they KNEW that he would do something again. I think that ALL criminals of something like this that are freed should have a chip injected in them, without them knowing WHERE exactly it is, and that they should be monitored at all times. Then, if there is something in question, they could "rewind" the tracing chip and see where they've been and follow their 'footsteps' so to speak!

I wonder if she's still alive!

(WTF?... why would he get a bail of $5 million for this, and we KNOW that he can't pay it... but Michael Jackson get's a bail of something less, and that he can pay! I don't think that our law is set up correctly. MJ's bail should have been MUCH higher!!! I'm talking in the double digits!)

Thursday, December 4, 2003 Posted: 3:53 PM EST (2053 GMT)


GRAND FORKS, North Dakota (CNN) -- Three-time convicted rapist Alfonso Rodriguez Jr. was ordered held on $5 million bail on Thursday while he awaits trial on a charge of kidnapping missing college student Dru Sjodin in North Dakota.

In Grand Forks District Court, prosecutors asked for the high figure, and a lawyer for Rodriguez said his client wanted to remain in custody for his own safety.

I know, mystic... that's the scary part. It's most likely that he is the one responsible!!! Just tell the truth, and at least allow the family to move on. They can't even have a proper funeral and move past their grief if she's never found.

He won't tell. Demented people like that have no decency. I feel so sorry for her parents.

True, Sherry... and it's so heartbreaking!!

I have to say... I hope that she didn't suffer too badly.

I'm with you Kris. We should all still pray for a miracle, but just not expect one.

How sad is it that a college age girl can not even go to her car at a mall at night without this happening.

It's an extremely harsh world that we live in! There are people in this world who are beyond sick. I can't even hope to comprehend what kind of thoughts run through their minds. And it's just so devestating when things like this happen. And then, you pray that you, or any of your loved ones are never in a situation like this.

SS... where did you get that tidbit of info? I've been all over CNN and many other news sites, and they don't mention that at all. And, you would think that there would be something, because that would be HUGE evidence.

ABCNews.com

Thank you, SS. I wish that they would put that info on cnn.com as well.
I didn't even look at that website you gave!!!
Man... this is just so sad Her poor family.

You know I could deal with this kind of stuff a lot better if I knew there was some way Dru wasn't scared out of her mind. What was she thinking? That poor baby! I don't know how people can do these kinds of things to people. And the sad thing is everyone thinks it couldn't happen to them. This is just terrible.

Oh, it could happen to anyone, at any given moment. There are people in this world with absolutely no regard to human life.

I agree... what must she have felt that moment when talking on her cell phone with her boyfriend, who was 5 hours away. What he must have been wondering... and knowing that there was NOTHING that he could do. She must have been horrified. Poor baby.

Report: Blood in car matches missing student's DNA

Blood found in the car of the man charged with kidnapping Dru Sjodin matches the missing college student's DNA, a newspaper reported.

Preliminary analysis of the blood matches DNA taken from Sjodin's toothbrush, the Star Tribune of Minneapolis reported in Tuesday editions, citing two sources close to the investigation.

A source also told The Associated Press on Monday that a knife was discovered in the car's trunk.

The AP source, a person close to the investigation, also confirmed earlier reports about the blood and a knife sheath found near Sjodin's car in the parking lot of the Grand Forks shopping mall where she disappeared.

That sheath could only belong to a particular knife sold exclusively as a set in a home improvement store in Grand Forks, one of the sources told the Star Tribune.

Sjodin, 22, of Pequot Lakes, Minnesota, was last heard talking to her boyfriend on a cell phone November 22 after the University of North Dakota student left her job at a Victoria's Secret.

Alfonso Rodriguez Jr., 50, has been charged with kidnapping Sjodin. Evidence in the case, which was sealed by a judge after Rodriguez's arrest, should be released Tuesday, the source said.

Rodriguez's maroon, four-door 2002 Mercury Sable was impounded by authorities before his December 1 arrest in Crookston, Minn.

David Dusek, Rodriguez's public defender, has said his client stated he had nothing to do with Sjodin's disappearance.

Rodriguez was interviewed by authorities last week, but has since declined to speak with investigators.

Bail has been set at $5 million, but Rodriguez has chosen to stay in jail because of fears for his safety. He faces a preliminary hearing February 4 and arraignment February 6.

Sjodin's father said Monday he was dismayed to find that police recovered a knife from Rodriguez's car. But given Rodriguez's criminal past, he said he was not surprised.

"You know what? It's probably true," Allan Sjodin said. "That's his modus operandi."

Rodriguez is a convicted rapist who has a history of attempted kidnapping with adult women, and has used a weapon in at least one assault. He was registered as a predatory offender, the classification for those believed to be at the highest risk of committing another sex crime.

Rodriguez was released from a Minnesota prison in May after serving 23 years for an attempted abduction in 1979. Wayne Swanson, who prosecuted Rodriguez, said Rodriguez tried to abduct a woman off the street, and stabbed her when she fought back.

Allan Sjodin said he is still determined to find his daughter alive.

"I have one mission here," he said. "It's the same mission I've been telling everyone about since day one, and that's to find Dru."

Meanwhile, investigators said they planned to expand their search for Sjodin to areas south of Grand Forks this week.

Police Capt. Mike Kirby said searches would continue until officials have firm reason to believe Sjodin is dead.

"We are committed to this. The family is out and we will be out," Kirby said.

Searchers Monday included Sjodin's uncle, who noted that volunteers also were pitching in.

"Some of the guys we don't even know," Lowell Sjodin said. "It's this part of the country, I think. Everyone just pulls together."

Source: AP

Anything new on this case? Why aren't the cops beating a confession out of this piece of ****?

-HECK!

It is just heartbreaking. Women, do NOT let any abductor take you to a secondary location. If you do, they will kill you. Your chances are much better if you fight and scream where you are. Self-defense experts have been telling women this for years. I hope that no one else has to go through a situation like that. My prayers are for her family.

This sucks.

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GRAND FORKS, N.D., Dec. 9 — Missing college student Dru Sjodin is probably dead, the sheriff said Tuesday in confirming that DNA tests found Sjodin’s blood in the car of the man suspected of kidnapping her.

“I CERTAINLY HATE to be discouraging to the family or anyone, but it looks to me now that it’s more of a recovery mission than a rescue,” Grand Forks County Sheriff Dan Hill said.

In an interview with The Associated Press, Hill also revealed that searchers found a shoe belonging to the University of North Dakota student near the Red Lake River after she disappeared. Sjodin (pronounced sha-DEEN) was last heard from Nov. 22, calling her boyfriend on a cellphone from the parking lot of a Grand Forks mall where she worked at a Victoria’s Secret.

The shoe was identified by a college roommate of Sjodin, 22. It is the only piece of clothing recovered so far, Hill said.

WHEREABOUTS IN QUESTION
An affidavit unsealed later Tuesday had some new information: Convicted rapist Alfonso Rodriguez Jr.’s account of his whereabouts at the time Sjodin disappeared. According to the affidavit, Rodriguez told police he was watching a movie, “Once Upon a Time in Mexico” at about 7 p.m. that night. Police said the movie wasn’t being shown at any theater near the mall that day.

The DNA match may be the most significant break yet in the attempt by authorities to tie Rodriguez to Sjodin’s disappearance. Hill said investigators tested blood from Rodriguez’s car against DNA taken from Sjodin’s toothbrush.

The affidavit unsealed Tuesday also showed that authorities first interviewed Rodriguez on Nov. 26, four days after Sjodin disappeared.

Forensic examiners inspected the car, the affidavit said, and discovered blood in several spots, including the inside of the rear passenger-side window and on the back seat.

SUSPECT TOOK A NAP
Hill said Rodriguez sat down and fell asleep during a search of his house. “If I had police walking around in my house I wouldn’t be snoozing,” Hill said.
Hill described the blood in the car as a small amount.
Hill also confirmed a media report that the trunk of Rodriguez’s car had been extensively cleaned before his arrest.
Rodriguez, 50, has been charged with Sjodin’s kidnapping. He has said through his attorney that he is innocent.
The Associated Press reported Monday that a knife was discovered in the trunk of Rodriguez’s car, and later reported that a sheath found near Sjodin’s car matched the knife.
Sjodin’s father said Monday he was dismayed to find that police recovered a knife from Rodriguez’s car. But given his criminal past, he said he was not surprised.
“You know what? It’s probably true,” Allan Sjodin said. “That’s his modus operandi.”
Rodriguez has a history of attempted kidnapping with adult women, and has used a weapon in at least one assault. Rodriguez was released from a Minnesota prison in May after serving 23 years for an attempted abduction in 1979.

© 2003 Associated Press.

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Poor girl.

-HECK!

I heard today that they are thinking this guy is a serial killer.....

I dont know if thats the case, but they are looking into it....seems that there might be some cold cases that match this scenario....


Guess we will see soon.

What a scumbag!

That S.O.B should have NEVER be let out of prision! He was NOT reformed! I don't believe in that crap... and the crimes that he commited before, that they know of, were not all that he did. Lock him up for life and let him die in prison... where he belongs!

The family should get to decide his fate, not 12 of his peers.

-HECK!

I'm ALL for that, Heck!!!

Thursday, December 11, 2003 Posted: 12:15 PM EST (1715 GMT)


GRAND FORKS, North Dakota (AP) -- While officials and friends searched without success for Dru Sjodin, her mother went looking for help from the mother of the man charged with kidnapping the missing college student.

"I asked her to reach out to her son and please ask him to lead us to Dru," Linda Walker told the Grand Forks Herald for its Thursday editions. "I asked mother-to-mother."

Alfonso Rodriguez Jr., 50, of Crookston, Minnesota, is being held on $5 million bond. Rodriguez has said through his attorney that he had nothing to do with the Nov. 22 disappearance of Sjodin, who is enrolled at the University of North Dakota.

Walker said Dolores Rodriguez did not respond to her request when they spoke Saturday. But she said Dolores Rodriguez and her daughter, Illeana Noyes, were compassionate, expressing concern about Sjodin's safety and the family's well-being.

Dolores Rodriguez and Noyes visited Alfonso Rodriguez for 45 minutes Tuesday, but the topic of their conversation wasn't known.

Authorities say a small amount of blood found in Rodriguez's car tested against DNA from Sjodin's toothbrush, and a knife found in Rodriguez's trunk matched a sheath found near her car, which was found at the mall where she disappeared.

Meanwhile, National Guard soldiers from North Dakota and Minnesota will help scour the countryside for Sjodin beginning Friday.

Minnesota expects to send 150 soldiers to cover roughly 500 square miles of Polk County in northwestern Minnesota after Sheriff Mark LeTexier asked Gov. Tim Pawlenty for help.

Up to 90 North Dakota soldiers will help about 55 Highway Patrol troopers, Crime Bureau agents and state conservation officers go over 275 to 300 square miles, local and Guard officials said.

Areas south and west of Grand Forks are near the Columbia Mall, where Sjodin disappeared and within the 25-mile range of the signal coming off her cell phone, said Dan Hill, sheriff of Grand Forks County.

Hill has been criticized by the Sjodin family and others for saying Tuesday that Sjodin probably won't be found alive. He also said authorities will not stop looking for her.

Hill met with Sjodin's father, Allan Sjodin, at the police station Wednesday morning to explain himself.

"He extended his hand out to me, and I walked up to him and told him I was so sorry that I said what I said," Hill said. "He gave me a big hug and I hugged him back."

What ever happened with this?

-HECK!

I have checked the CNN website, and there hasn't been an update.
I have to say... if they haven't found her by now, she's got to be dead.

I agree. I read somewhere if they don't find them in 48 hours they are usually gone.

But there was that Utah girl that was kidnapped for a few months. Maybe it's a situation like that.

-HECK!

Uh huh... its really a strange coincidence, isn't it?

Alfonso Rodriguez Jr
And police in Grand Forks, Minnesota are being pretty tight-lipped about exactly what led them to arrest the man seen in this mug shot, Alfonso Rodriguez, Jr. on kidnapping charges on December 1, 2003. Rodriguez was just released in May of 2003 after serving time for rape, aggravated assault and kidnapping. He’s registered sex offender, and categorized as a predatory offender who police say “has a history of sexual contact and attempted kidnapping with adult females.” Rodriguez has been arrested in connection with the kidnapping and disappearance of college student Dru Sjodin, who disappeared from a parking lot on November 22, 2003, and hasn’t been seen since. Thousands of volunteers have been searching for her ever since.


http://www.mugshots.com/IMAGES/Mugshot__Alfonso-Rodriguez-Jr.jpg

It's amazing, to me, how you can have someone with a criminal history, of kidnapping young women, sexual assault, etc... and they LET HIM OUT OF PRISON! What in the hell is wrong with our system. This guy has SERIOUS problems, and should not have been released. That's a lifer, if you ask me.

That dude even looks evil. And he was released in May and this other girl dissappeared in November? Damn. That's jacked. This dude needs to get the chair.

-HECK!

Look at his neck, just a pinch above his shirt collar....
it looks like it's fake... like you could peel it up!

Ladies, if you see a dude like this coming up to you in a mall parking lot, freak out on him. So what if he has a knife. Once you are forced in a trunk or car, that's it. Kick, scream, scratch, pull, punch like your life depended on it... cuz it just might.

-HECK!

I will do anything and everything that I can to stop someone from hurting me, or someone else!

You know what about that Rodriguez guy? To me, he doesn't look all that evil... I say this, because I see people with scowls across their faces all the time, and many of those people I see walking casually look more menacing to me than Rodriguez's picture... From what I remember about the case, Rodriguez is a quiet guy. Still waters, so to speak...

I personally have seen my own father look more evil at times, but I submit that I MAY have been the cause....

They found this girl, she's dead. Sad, sad, sad.

-HECK!