Dakota Spotlight: True Crime & Cold Case Investigations

Latest Episodes:

Unresolved, The Murder of Joel Lovelien (3): Travis Stay, the Man in Yellow Mar 15, 2023

Show notes

Episode 3, Travis Stay, the Man in Yellow, examines the movements and actions of Travis Stay and his friends during the weekend of Joel Lovelien’s murder in Grand Forks, North Dakota. Stay, who was seen in a lion costume that night, became the central suspect in the case and was later tried for Joel’s murder. In December 2008, a jury found him not guilty. This episode traces his timeline, explores the events leading up to the killing, and revisits the question of what really happened outside the Broken Drum Bar.

Intro and outro music by HandTurner (https://handturner.bandcamp.com) and Wowza in Kalamazoo (https://wowzainkalamazoo.bandcamp.com/).

Check out the full catalog and everything Dakota Spotlight: https://dakotaspotlight.com/

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Proudly produced by Six Horse Media: info@sixhorsemedia.com

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All content in this podcast, including audio, interviews, and soundscapes, is the property of Six Horse Media. Any unauthorized use, reproduction, or rebroadcast of this material without the express written consent of Six Horse Media is strictly prohibited. For permissions or inquiries, please contact info@sixhorsemedia.com.

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Gigs & Updates: 3/13/2023 Mar 13, 2023

Show notes

This is not a full episode, but rather just a quick little update and request for some assistance. Also a quick chat with Wowza in Kalamazoo.

Today is March 13th, 2023 and episode 3 of Season 8 will be out in two days–that's season 8, Unresolved the Murder of Joel Lovelien.

Which brings me to my request. I'm looking for any of you who were friends with Joel Lovelien, maybe you worked with him at Altru hospital or maybe you went to school with him. I'd like to gather a few more memories of him for the podcast. If you can help me learn more about Joel Lovelien, who he was, what he was like, please send me an email at jwolner@forumcomm.com

I'd really appreciate it.

Also, don't miss Wowza in Kalamazoo are going to be playing live in Bismarck, on Saturday, May 13th. You've heard their music a lot on this podcast, including the theme songs for season 5 about missing Barbara Cotton and season 7 about missing Michele Julson. I'm going to be there to see Wowza play live at The Laughing Sun Brewery in Bismarck on Saturday May 13th.

Songs in this episode: Crown Shy and Magdelena.

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Unresolved, The Murder of Joel Lovelien (2): The Clown, the Cowboy, and the Hunter Mar 08, 2023

Show notes

In the second episode of Unresolved, The Murder of Joel Lovelien, investigators begin piecing together the first hours after Joel was found beaten outside the Broken Drum Bar in Grand Forks, North Dakota. Episode 2, The Clown, the Cowboy, and the Hunter, unpacks the chaos of witness statements and the many reasons the investigation got off to a confusing start. With costumed figures swirling around the crime scene, detectives struggled to separate fact from distraction in this unresolved North Dakota homicide.

Intro and outro music by HandTurner (https://handturner.bandcamp.com) and Wowza in Kalamazoo (https://wowzainkalamazoo.bandcamp.com/).

Check out the full catalog and everything Dakota Spotlight: https://dakotaspotlight.com/

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Unresolved, The Murder of Joel Lovelien (1): Halloween at The Broken Drum Mar 01, 2023

Show notes

On October 27, 2007, Joel Lovelien was beaten to death outside the Broken Drum Bar in Grand Forks, North Dakota, during a night of Halloween costumes and heavy drinking. Episode 1, Halloween at The Broken Drum, revisits that chaotic night, when Joel was discovered unconscious in the parking lot and later died despite fast medical response. This episode begins Dakota Spotlight’s reexamination of the unsolved homicide, raising the enduring question: Who killed Joel Lovelien?

Intro and outro music by HandTurner (https://handturner.bandcamp.com) and Wowza in Kalamazoo (https://wowzainkalamazoo.bandcamp.com/).

Check out the full catalog and everything Dakota Spotlight: https://dakotaspotlight.com/

Get all episodes early, ad-free, and more. Subscribe to Spotlight PLUS: https://dakotaspotlight.com/spotlight-plus/

Email: dakotaspotlight@gmail.com

Facebook: https://facebook.com/groups/dakotaspotlight

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YouTube: @dakotaspotlightpodcast4800

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Season 8 update & Refugio Rodriguez part 2 Feb 19, 2023

Show notes

A sneak peak at Season 8 coming March 1st and titled Unresolved - The Murder of Joel Lovelien.

Also part 2 of Trisha Taurinska's investigation into the death of Refugio Rodriguez in Montevideo, Minnesota. https://www.inforum.com/news/the-vault/investigator-into-refugio-rodriguezs-death-had-other-case-thrown-out-due-to-bad-police-work

See a video trailer of season 8: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wbrHX48Xkw

To contact me: email jwolner@forumcomm.com

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Evidence Ignored - introducing the Refugio Rodriguez story by Trisha Taurinskas at The Vault Dec 23, 2022

Show notes

Hello Dakota Spotlight followers: I have a bit of a holiday treat for you today, which I am very excited to share with you.

A few weeks ago, I traveled to the town of Montevideo, Minnesota. I was there to take part in a meeting with three of my colleagues to plan and discuss work for The Vault - which is Forum Communication’s online catalog of great stories about Midwest history, mysteries and, of course, true crime.

Why did we convene in Montevideo, Minnesota?

Montevideo was purely a logistical destination as we all live in different places; 3 of us drove to Montevideo where a 4th colleague lives. Her name is Trisha Taurinskas.

Over coffee we asked Trisha if there were any local stories that she had considered for The Vault. It turns out there was one story that Trisha had on her mind–in fact, to me, it seemed to be stuck in her mind.

I could tell right then and there, this story was not gonna to just go away for her—she was in the early phases of experiencing a nagging feeling that I know very well myself–I would describe it as an almost uncomfortable sense of ‘calling’ … a somewhat involuntary compulsion to act and go look for and find answers–all in the name of justice and the truth.

And that’s exactly what she did–exactly what she is currently in the middle of doing...

Fast forward a few months and now my holiday treat for you then, coming up right here, right now, is the full first episode of Trisha Taurinskas’ reporting on the death of Refugio Rodriquez. A Minnesota man found dead on a walking path – a man who had just told his family his life was in danger after he was outed as a confidential informant for law enforcement. Yet despite the suspicious death, his case was closed, the death ruled a suicide.

But as you might imagine, and as Trisha sensed all along, there is a lot more to the story than that.

/ James Wolner email: jwolner@forumcomm.com

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Call Me Shelly (9): Follow the Red Dirt Road – The Mysterious Disappearance of Michele Julson Nov 24, 2022

Show notes

Episode 9, Follow the Red Dirt Road, asks whether the unusual red dirt on Shelly Julson’s car is a key clue in her 1994 disappearance. By connecting details in her cold case file to this overlooked evidence, host James Wolner questions if investigators missed a lead that could shed light on The Mysterious Disappearance of Michele Julson.

Archival audio provided by The State Historical Society of North Dakota https://www.history.nd.gov/

Music by Wowza in Kalamazoo https://wowzainkalamazoo.bandcamp.com/

Check out the full catalog and everything Dakota Spotlight: https://dakotaspotlight.com/

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Call Me Shelly (8): Frightened, Followed, Harassed – The Mysterious Disappearance of Michele Julson Nov 02, 2022

Show notes

Episode 8, Frightened, Followed, Harassed, digs into the harassment Shelly Julson faced before her disappearance in 1994 Bismarck. She reported being followed, receiving hang-up calls, and named Bismarck police officer Donald Schaffer as a harasser. This episode examines Schaffer’s past and addresses listener questions in The Mysterious Disappearance of Michele Julson.

Archival audio provided by The State Historical Society of North Dakota https://www.history.nd.gov/

Music by Wowza in Kalamazoo https://wowzainkalamazoo.bandcamp.com/

Check out the full catalog and everything Dakota Spotlight: https://dakotaspotlight.com/

Get all episodes early, ad-free, and more. Subscribe to Spotlight PLUS: https://dakotaspotlight.com/spotlight-plus/

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The Lady Vanishes: Interview with Alison Sandy Oct 12, 2022

Show notes

In this stand-alone episode we do a follow up interview with Alison Sandy, journalist and producer of the Australian podcast The Lady Vanishes about the fascinating and captivating news being uncovered in the investigation into Marion Barter's disappearance. To date The Lady Vanishes podcast has had 13 million downloads and has helped bring many answers into whatever happened to Marion Barter who vanished after embarking on an international trip in 1997.

Was Marion Barter a victim of a con-man with a history of deceiving single women and stealing their money? What happened to Marion Barter? Thanks to The Lady Vanishes podcast the world may soon know.

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Call Me Shelly (7): A Missing Mother’s Son – The Mysterious Disappearance of Michele Julson Sep 29, 2022

Show notes

Episode 7, A Missing Mother’s Son, introduces Jaden Woodwoth, who grew up without his mother after her disappearance in 1994 Bismarck. He reflects on the impact of loss, the role of his father and grandfather, and how Shelly’s case shaped his life. The episode also debunks a claim made by Bismarck PD investigators, shedding new light on The Mysterious Disappearance of Michele Julson.

Archival audio provided by The State Historical Society of North Dakota https://www.history.nd.gov/

Music by Wowza in Kalamazoo https://wowzainkalamazoo.bandcamp.com/

Check out the full catalog and everything Dakota Spotlight: https://dakotaspotlight.com/

Get all episodes early, ad-free, and more. Subscribe to Spotlight PLUS: https://dakotaspotlight.com/spotlight-plus/

Email: dakotaspotlight@gmail.com

Facebook: https://facebook.com/groups/dakotaspotlight

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Instagram: @dakotaspotlight

TikTok: @dakotaspotlight

Bluesky: @dakotaspotlight.bsky.social

YouTube: @dakotaspotlightpodcast4800

Proudly produced by Six Horse Media: info@sixhorsemedia.com