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her family has just created a website at http://www.finddru.com/
more officials from around the area as well as from minneapolis have joined the search and a lot of tips have been coming in. hopefully she'll be found safely soon. |
This is so sad. I wish I could help out too bad I live nowhere near there. I just hope that they can find her and punish her abductor.
Im gonna continue to pray for her safe return. Nichole |
just wanted to give an update. a news flash just came across my tv a few minutes ago. the police have arrested someone related to the case. i'll update again when i get the full story on the news at 10.
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please do keep us posted, i havent heard anything on my local news or cnn
i hope they are making progress, and i hope that only the best comes out of this.... |
from CNN
CNN) --
.http://www.kare11.com/assetpool//ima...81_alfonso.jpg An arrest has been made in connection with the disappearance of a 22-year-old college student, police in Grand Forks, North Dakota, said Monday evening. Alfonso Rodriguez Jr., 50, of Crookston, Minnesota, was taken into custody in Crookston at 7:20 p.m. (8:20 p.m. EST), shortly after the state's attorney's office in Grand Forks issued an arrest warrant for him on a kidnapping charge. He is being held at a jail in Crookston, about 25 miles southeast of Grand Forks, where University of North Dakota senior Dru Sjodin went missing November 22. The search for Sjodin is still in progress, police said. Authorities believe Sjodin may have been abducted while she was talking to her boyfriend on her cell phone, according to Associated Press reports. She had finished her shift at Victoria's Secret at the Columbia Mall in Grand Forks and had gone shopping at another store in the mall. Her boyfriend, Chris Lang, told authorities he was talking to Sjodin on the cell phone when the conversation abruptly ended, the AP reported. Police said Lang reported that Sjodin said "something to the effect of 'Oh my God,' or 'Oh no" ' before the line went dead. The search had been centered in Fisher, Minnesota, about 10 miles east of Grand Forks, where the call was traced to her cell phone, the AP reported. It was widened to the Crookston area because the cell phone signal could have carried that far, officials said. Since Sjodin's disappearance, hundreds have turned out for organized searches, according to the AP. Police have received hundreds of calls to a tip line |
like others have already posted, there has been an arrest. but they still haven't found dru. the search will continue tomorrow. they have had over 900 leads that they are sifting through. also, they have been searching the river with underwater cameras and will continue to do so tomorrow.
just so some of you can get some of our local news: fargo paper: www.in-forum.com fargo news: www.kvlytv11.com |
here's the latest article just posted on in-forum.com
Man arrested in Sjodin disappearance Dave Forster , Matthew Von Pinnon and Steven P. Wagner The Forum - 12/01/2003 A Level 3 sex offender recently released from prison and living in Crookston, Minn., was charged Monday night with kidnapping in the Nov. 22 disappearance case of Dru Sjodin. Alfonso Rodriguez Jr., 50, is being held for kidnapping in Crookston’s Tri-County Correctional Center. Police did not immediately disclose what led them to Rodriguez, or if signs of Sjodin had been found. Rodriguez, released from prison May 1, has a history of sexual contact and attempted kidnapping of adult women, according to the Minnesota Department of Corrections Web site. Rodriguez has raped women in two earlier instances and has used a weapon to gain compliance, the site says. Rodriguez was known by one of his victims and unknown to two others. Rodriguez, 5 foot 4 inches tall and 159 pounds, was no longer under supervision, according the corrections Web site. Level 3 sex offenders are deemed those highly likely to re-offend. Law enforcement officials said in a press release Monday night that no other information would be released until an 11 a.m. press conference today in Grand Forks. News of Rodriguez’ arrest came to Sjodin’s family at 8:05 p.m. Monday from a Forum reporter who was with them at the time. Sjodin’s father, Allan, asked: “Is it legit?” About 10 family members then watched in the lobby of the Grand Forks Hilton hotel as WDAY and WDAZ TV reported Rodriguez’s arrest. WDAZ reported Rodriguez was arrested at his mother’s home in Crookston. Sjodin’s family members immediately began making cell phone calls to authorities and friends upon hearing the news. There was then a scurry of activity -- they hugged each other and paced the hotel hallways. Sven Sjodin, Dru’s brother, said, “It’s good news, but we still have a mission ahead of us. We all know she’s still alive. “We have a piece of the puzzle. Now we just have to get her back.” Allan Sjodin, Dru’s father, said he would not comment on the arrest until today’s press conference. Grand Forks Police refused to say last Wednesday whether or not detectives were interested in talking with Rodriguez. A call placed to Rodriguez’s mother’s house last Wednesday night was answered by a woman. The Forum wanted to find out if Rodriguez had been questioned in the search. When asked, the woman on the phone said, “That’s none of your business” and hung up. Also last Wednesday, a worker at El Roco Night Club, where Sjodin worked nights as a waitress, said she recognized Rodriguez’s face when shown his mug shot, by a Forum reporter, from Minnesota’s sex offender Web site. She said she last saw him a couple of months ago, but other workers there said they didn’t recognize him. Waitress Stephanie Brumwell was working Monday night when TV reports hushed the crowd with news of the arrest. Neither she nor the two bartenders on duty recognized Rodriguez, but Brumwell said they all were so shocked they didn’t pay close attention to his face. “Emotions were running a little bit wild,” she said, minutes after hearing the news. “Hope is definitely still alive.” Dru Sjodin, a 22-year-old University of North Dakota senior, was last seen leaving the Columbia Mall in Grand Forks. She graduated from high school in Pequot Lakes, Minn., where she was an honor student, athlete and homecoming queen. |
Oh no... this doesn't sound so good :'-(
From the city's web site: Arrest Made Related to the Disappearance of Dru Sjodin At 7:20 p.m. on 01 December 2003, law enforcement officers arrested Alfonso Rodriguez Jr., age 50, of Crookston Minnesota on a warrant issued by the Grand Forks States Attorney’s Office and signed in Grand Forks District Court for the charge of Kidnapping, a Class A Felony in North Dakota. Alfonso Rodriguez Jr. is being held at the Tri-County Correctional Center in Crookston Minnesota. Out of respect for the Sjodin family and in the interest of the integrity of the investigation, no further information will be released at this time. All agencies involved are working to find Dru and continuing the investigation. Anyone with information that may assist in locating Dru Sjodin or who may have information regarding this abduction should call the Grand Forks Police Department Tip Line at 701-780-8213. A press briefing will be held in the lobby of the Grand Forks Police Department at 11:00 am CST on Tuesday, 2 December 2003. No additional information will be released until this press briefing. Release issued: 8:15 p.m. Monday, December 1, 2003 Release prepared by: Captain Michael Kirby |
i hope for the best, but i can't help but expect the worst...it's just the way i am. these days, these stories have far too few happy endings. however, finding him is a big step and hopefully dru is alive and well and will be reunited with her loved ones soon.
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Her family still sounded a little positive - so I'm going to keep thinking happy thoughts for Dru until I have good reason not to.
Also, thank you ladies for keeping us posted - this isn't getting much media attention here, so I've been keeping my chapter posted via GC updates. |
my heart breaks for this situation-- that's just horrible... i hope that everything will be okay at 11 am tomorrow
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Man faces hearing in student's disappearance
Minnesota man served sentence for rape Tuesday, December 2, 2003 Posted: 10:10 AM EST (1510 GMT) Alfonso Rodriguez Jr. was arrested Monday on a kidnapping charge. (CNN) -- A 50-year-old Minnesota man faces an extradition hearing Tuesday in Crookston, Minnesota, following his arrest in the kidnapping of a North Dakota college student who vanished after she left her job at a mall just over a week ago, court officials said. Authorities said Alfonso Rodriguez Jr. of Crookston, was arrested shortly after the Grand Forks state attorney's office issued an arrest warrant for him on a kidnapping charge in the disappearance of Dru Sjodin, a student at the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks. Sjodin disappeared November 22, and the search for her is still in progress, police said. Rodriguez, who is listed as a predatory offender by the Minnesota Department of Corrections, was released from prison on May 1 after serving time for charges that include rape, aggravated assault and kidnapping. The Web site on which he is registered describes him as 5 feet 4 inches tall, with "a history of sexual contact and attempted kidnapping with adult females." "Offender used force and has used a weapon to gain compliance," the site says. It does not say how long of a sentence he served, but notes that he is no longer under supervision. The Grand Forks Police Department refused to elaborate on the arrest. "Out of respect for the Sjodin family and in the interest of the integrity of the investigation, no further information will be released at this time," a police statement said. A news conference is scheduled for Tuesday. Sjodin disappeared as she left the mall in Grand Forks where she worked at a Victoria's Secret store. Her car was found in the parking lot. Friends contacted police after she failed to show up at a second job that night, and after an alarming phone call with her boyfriend that was cut short. In that call, friends say, her last words were "no, no, no, OK, OK, OK." The search had been centered in Fisher, Minnesota, about 10 miles east of Grand Forks, where the call was traced to her cell phone, The Associated Press reported. It was widened to the Crookston area because the cell phone signal could have carried that far, officials said. Since Sjodin's disappearance, more than 1,000 volunteer searchers have braved the snow and cold to search for her. |
well, the press conference didn't give much more info. they basically said the community is safer now that rodriguz is in custody. they're still looking for dru and they won't discuss any details at this time.
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Cautiously Encouraging
The noon press conference was very guarded, with a refusal to divulge details such as evidence. What I find encouraging is that the suspect was charged with "kidnapping", and nothing more egregious. The arrest was based on "probable cause", and no further details were released.
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Re: Cautiously Encouraging
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Here's more info...I was not able to watch the press conference as I was in class at that time. When I got home, however, I did talk to one of my friends who told me that the whole thing was basically pointless. Here's some info that I have picked up throughout the day though...
The man arrested has kidnapped about 3 women in te past. He has never killed anyone, but has used a weapon (knife). the worst thing he has done to them, well, besides rape, is sstab wounds. But never killed. Knowing this keeps hope alive, in my eyes at least. I do not know how accurate this informtion is, but it is just stuff I have heard...Fingers still crossed...More search volunteers needed tomorrow... |
thanks for all the updates... i'm still praying for her safe return
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accountability
why was this guy out of jail? when the "powers that be" are held accountable for the actions of felons such as this repeat offender, maybe the world will be a safer place. dru and her family are in my prayers.
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Im praying for her family and for her safe return. However we dont know that this guy even has anything to do with her dissapearance. Im kind of hoping that he does since he is now in custody and maybe they'll be able to find her w/o her being hurt. I hope she is ok.
Nichole |
I was just watching the news about the story, and INside Edition is having a special on it now! Check it out!
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I know this is probably a post for another thread, but I am furious to the point of feeling physically ill that this predatory animal was out of jail, walking around freely. Heaven help me, but I truly do believe that some people need to be locked up and the key thrown away.
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1) He's innocent until proven guilty.
2) I don't like the fact that they locked up a suspect, but still don't have Dru. 3) If he is guilty, I blame the North Dakota legislature more than I blame the criminal. Sexual predators have about a 50% recidivism rate. This is like releasing a criminal and flipping a coin; heads - he becomes a good citizen, tails - he assaults someone else again. It really is about time that laws against sexual predators, especially repeat offenders, be made to reflect the need for public safety. http://flamevault.com/~tarnac/fvsmiles/soapbox.gif |
What you say is true except for the fact this guy lived 30 miles away in Minnesota, not ND, and served time in a Minnesota prison, not ND, and thus was arrested last night from his home in Minnesota.
As for me, I dont believe any sex offender shoudl be set free for any reason, because of their high inability to be rehabilitated and to be a repeat offender, which not only creates more victims, but costs tax payers more money. I believe sex offenders, in particularly those that touch children, should fry...... |
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Thanks to everyone
On behalf of all of my sisters, I would like to thank everyone for all of the warm thoughts and wishes to us and to the UND chapter.:)
Hopefully they will soon find her alive. |
just another update
*crossed fingers* and lots of love for dru! --- Hundreds expected to search for missing student Father: 'Honey, we are gonna find you' Tuesday, December 2, 2003 Posted: 11:03 PM EST (0403 GMT) (CNN) -- Wednesday is going to be a "very important day" in the search for a 22-year-old North Dakota student who has been missing for 10 days, said the Grand Forks police chief. Despite an arrest in the case, finding her is our number one goal, said Police Chief John Packett. "We estimate up to 1,500 citizens will be bussed to Grand Forks from as far away as the Twin Cities and Fargo to assist in the search. I think that's unprecedented in a situation like this and it certainly shows the community interest in this case," he said. Dru Sjodin has been missing since November 22, when she was last seen leaving work at a Grand Forks shopping mall. Alfonso Rodriguez Jr., a 50-year-old man who served time in prison for rape, was arrested Monday night in nearby Crookston, Minnesota, on a kidnapping charge. "Our community is a safer place this morning," Packett said during an earlier news conference. "With the arrest of last night, this investigation has only reached the 50-yard line," Packett said. "As additional charges and information becomes available, we will not be satisfied or comforted until such time as we find Dru." Police released photographs Tuesday of Sjodin's 1994 red Oldsmobile Cutlass with a primer-gray front fender on the driver's side and of Rodriguez's maroon-colored 2002 Mercury Sable in hopes of jogging the memory of anyone who might have spotted the vehicles around the time of her disappearance. Her family appealed to the public to keep searching and told the missing woman not to give up hope. "Honey, we are still looking for you. We know you're there. Our strength is drawn from you," said Sjodin's father, Allan Sjodin. "What we want is everyone to continue doing what they're doing, just like these folks are saying. Check shelter belts, buildings, check everything. We want information. We have the strength. We will continue. Honey, we are gonna find you." "We are a strong family, and we know she is out there," said her brother, Sven Sjodin. "She is a strong girl. I know we are just right around the corner from you, Dru. If you're watching TV right now, you have a bunch things to say, and we'll see you in a while. We love you." Rodriguez was released from a Minnesota prison in May after serving a nearly 23-year sentence for rape, kidnapping and assault. An extradition hearing in the case in Crookston, about 25 miles southeast of Grand Forks, was postponed until Wednesday. State's Attorney Peter Welte said investigators can place Rodriguez not only in Grand Forks at the time Sjodin disappeared, but also in the parking lot of the shopping center where she worked. "We do have probable cause that he was in Grand Forks at that time and that he was in the parking lot," Welte said. Rodriguez was convicted of raping two women, and his name appears on Minnesota's sexual predator list as someone with "a history of sexual contact and attempted kidnapping with adult females." The list, maintained by the Minnesota Department of Corrections, reports convictions for rape, aggravated assault and attempted kidnapping on his record. Megan Murphy, Sjodin's roommate, said the arrest was "obviously some good news." "I think it makes everybody feel a little bit better -- that at least we're finding something and it could lead us to her, help us find her," she told CNN's "American Morning." More than 1,000 volunteers have been out in the cold and snow around Grand Forks to search for Sjodin, whose disappearance has shocked a community known for its low crime rate. Searchers cut holes in the frozen Red Lake River, near Crookston, and sent divers down to look for clues in a body of water that was not iced over when Sjodin was last seen. Hans Tweed, a friend involved in the search effort, said investigators are looking for "pretty much anything" that might lead them to the missing woman -- "any kind of evidence, clothing, receipts." Sjodin was last seen leaving work at a Victoria's Secret store in a mall. Her car never left the parking lot. Friends contacted police after she failed to show up at a second job that night and after an alarming phone call with her boyfriend that was cut short. In that call, friends say, her last words were, "No, no, no, OK, OK, OK." Authorities have concentrated the search around a rest area just seven miles from the mall, where police traced a second call from Sjodin's cell phone to her boyfriend. This time no words were exchanged, but authorities were able to trace the call to within four miles of a cell phone tower. Authorities have said the second call came about three hours after the first call. Police also had investigated calls to Sjodin at the Victoria's Secret store, including at least one that a colleague said was the voice of a man with a foreign accent. Authorities say anyone with information about the case should call (701) 780-8213. |
This is all so sad. In my heart of hearts I hope they find her but I must admit it does not look good to me. I hope I'm wrong.
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God, this story is so sad. I hope hope hope, and pray that they can find her unharmed, and soon!!
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sigh....
One of the many reasons why a sexual predator should never be freed. They don't change and they'll just commit the same act again. I hope they find this woman. And I hope she's still alive when they do find her. |
I wish we'd hear some good news soon! I pray that they find Dru alive and well. However, after being missing for this long, I'm very concerned about her. :(
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It is still so unfathomable that women of today can't go anywhere in public without fearing for her life. I wish the world would change the view that women are objects to be had and taken with no concern for her, as a human being. I am not trying to get on a soap box that says women are always seen as the underdog but I wish women could go out in public without the protection of a male. I guess if wishes were horses, we'd all take a ride.
I feel so sorry for Dru and her family to have her fall victim of such a senseless, terrifying crime that NO ONE should have to experience. The United States in general needs to beef up their security measures for everyone's well being and strengthen the legal system so that people that have committed atrocious crimes in the past don't get out because "oh they've been good in prison, so they should be good on the outside." This is not true in every case. Sexual predators have proven time and time again that they are going to commit other crimes if let out. I agree sexual predators should fry because they ruin people's self-assurance and security. |
Hi everyone! Just wanted to let you all know that russellwarshay started a thread in N&P on this issue so that we can keep thinking happy thoughts for Dru there, without letting political views interfere.
That being said, there's a big search today, and I hope they find Dru safe and well. |
well, rodriguez had his first appearance in grand forks court today. it only took about 10 minutes. bail is set at 5 million dollars. rodriquez said for his safety, he would like to remain in custody. not much else.
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i am on our local search and rescue team and usually if the suspect is found without the victim, the victim wont be found or the suspect will let it be known later. i feel so bad for sending bad thoughts out to all of you but on a realistic level...chances of finding ANYONE alive, not just this girl, after so many days is pretty much slim to none. the suspect has already had time to do his harm within the first 24 hours and bodies are usually dumped after that. but i could be wrong. but being a first responder and on search and rescue...you kind of sense things like this. there was that one girl that was abducted and found months later not far from her home. i, of course, hope they find this girl without one hair out of place...good luck to their search and rescue team and my thoughts are with her family.
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It has been so long. And if she is anywhere outside, the weather there looks brutally cold. On the other hand, who thought we would ever see Elizabeth Smart alive again?? Keep the faith!!! |
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