Dakota Spotlight Podcast

Chapter 1 – A Deed Without a Name Chapter 2 – Sunday Morning Sidewalks Chapter 3 – Unmade Beds Chapter 4 – Search Party Music by Peter Hicks – performed by Sleepy Driver Check out Sleepy Driver on sleepydriver.bandcamp.com ‘To God be the Glory‘ sung by the Sunday School kids at St Peter’s church, Chaffee, North Dakota Podcast Website: https://dakotaspotlight.com/ Dakota Spotlight is produced by Everything Midwestern LLC in North Dakota Check out the full catalog of Dakota Spotlight true crime podcasts at https://dakotaspotlight.com where you can sign up for a newsletter, subscribe to the new and exciting Spotlight PLUS ad-free experience and much more.  Head over to https://dakotaspotlight.com to learn more.  Advertise your podcast or brand in Dakota Spotlight episodes by sending email to info@sixhorsemedia.com Email: dakotaspotlight@gmail.com Facebook: https://facebook.com/groups/dakotaspotlight Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this brief announcement, James explains the leap he is taking in January of 2024. He has returned to producing the show 100% independently, has created The PorchLight Podcast Network, and plans to create brand new shows (not just True Crime). Also announcing Spotlight PLUS, a tier-based subscription offering for fans, loaded with exclusive access and content. Check out the full catalog of Dakota Spotlight true crime podcasts at https://dakotaspotlight.com where you can sign up for a newsletter, subscribe to the new and exciting Spotlight PLUS ad-free experience and much more.  Head over to https://dakotaspotlight.com to learn more.  The PorchLight Podcast Network https://porchlightpodcast.network Advertise your podcast or brand in Dakota Spotlight episodes by sending email to info@sixhorsemedia.com Email: dakotaspotlight@gmail.com Facebook: https://facebook.com/groups/dakotaspotlight  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 9 of Season 9: In this episode, Chad Isaak's mother and two of his sisters break their silence after four and a half years. Who was Chad? As a child? As a grown man? What warning signs did they see? Also in this episode, what do Chad Isaak's actions at RJR say about who his intended target was? And, a sheriff deputy shares two encounters with Isaak leading up to the murders. 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.  Check out the full catalog of Dakota Spotlight true crime podcasts at https://dakotaspotlight.com  where you can

Episode 8 of Season 9: A preview of what's still to come in The Mandan Murders and a Thanksgiving greeting from host James Wolner. Check out the full catalog of Dakota Spotlight true crime podcasts at https://dakotaspotlight.com  where you can sign up for a newsletter, subscribe to the new and exciting Spotlight PLUS ad-free experience and much more.  Head over to https://dakotaspotlight.com to learn more.  Advertise your podcast or brand in Dakota Spotlight episodes by sending email to info@sixhorsemedia.com Email: dakotaspotlight@gmail.com Facebook: https://facebook.com/groups/dakotaspotlight Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 7 of Season 9: In this episode, a closer look at two of the four killed at RJR, Adam Fuehrer and Robert Fakler. Interviews with Adam's wife, sister, brother-in-law and stepmom. Also, Robert Fakler's wife and daughter share their memories of him.  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.  Check out the full catalog of Dakota Spotlight true crime podcasts at https://dakotaspotlight.com  where you can sign up for a newsletter, subscribe to the new and exciting Spotlight PLUS ad-free experience and much more.  Head over to https://

Episode 6 of Season 9: In this episode, who were Bill and Lois Cobb? Friends and loved-ones of the Cobbs share their memories of Bill and Lois; we learn about their childhoods, their personalities, interests and more. Bill and Lois' daughters also share the challenges they have had in dealing with the murders and offer advice for others who may have to go through something similar.  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.  Check out the full catalog of Dakota Spotlight true crime podcasts at https://dakotaspotlight.com  where you can

Episode 5 of Season 9: This week we take a bit of a departure from the usual style of Dakota Spotlight as we listen in on the audio from the entire first interview and interrogation that Special Agent Joe Arens conducted with Chad Isaak. Also some comments by witnesses on some odd behavior Chad Isaak demonstrated at the time. 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.  Check out the full catalog of Dakota Spotlight true crime podcasts at https://dakotaspotlight.com  where you can sign up for a newsletter, subscribe to the new and excitin

Episode 4 of Season 9: Two days after the murders BCI and Mandan PD had zero suspects. But they had a lead. The vehicle. The mysterious man in orange drove a white Ford F-150 pickup and the cops caught a good image of it from a security camera in Center, North Dakota. They circulated the photo to all law enforcement and waited for someone to recognize it. That someone turned out to be detective Justin Krohmer. He looked at the photo and thought, 'That looks a lot like my chiropractor's vehicle.' 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.

Episode 3 of Season 9: In some ways it was elementary and simple. The way to catch the mysterious masked man in orange who killed four employees at RJR was to track him, to follow his trail. Not with a bloodhound but with video. Survellience video. In this episode law enforcement investigators recap how they painstakingly gathered video from local businesses to track the man in orange. That is until the trail went suddenly cold. Also in this episode, a little bit about Adam Fuehrer, one of the victims at RJR. Check out the full catalog of Dakota Spotlight true crime podcasts at https://dakotaspotlight.com  where you can sign up for a newsletter, subscribe to the new and exciting Spotlight PLUS ad-free experience and much more.  Head over to https://dakotaspotlight.com to learn more.  Advertise your podcast or brand in Dakota Spotlight episodes by sending email to info@sixhorsemedia.com Email: dakotaspotlight@gmail.com Facebook: https://facebook.com/groups/dakotaspotlight Learn more about your ad choices. Visi

Episode 2 of Season 9: In the second episode of The Mandan Murders, 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. In this series, 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.  Check out the full catalog of Dakota Spotlight true crime podcasts at https://dakotaspotlight.com  where you can sign up for a newsletter, subscribe to the new and exciting Spotlight PLUS ad-free experience and much more.  Head over to https://dakotaspotlight.com to learn more.  Advertise your pod

Episode 1 of Season 9: It was a crime that would shock the prairie. And that April morning the news quickly traveled across town: Four people had been found dead at a local business, RJR Maintenance and 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. In this first episode, host James Wolner recalls the morning of the murders in Mandan when he worked at a nearby business. He shares his memories of joining the first police press conference, his first step into true-crime podcasting journalism. In this series, 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.  Check out the full catalog of Dakota Spotlight true crime podcasts at https://dakotaspotlight.com  where you can sign up for a newsletter, subscribe to the new and exciting Spotlight PL

A short announcement and teaser about season 9 starting October 4, 2023. Homepage - https://inforum.com/dakotaspotlight Check out The Vault - https://inforum.com/news/the-vault Email - jwolner@forumcomm.com Facebook - facebook.com/groups/dakotaspotlight Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I'm still between Dakota Spotlight seasons, so today I am rebroadcasting for you one of my earliest pieces of audio work - an episode of a show I created to basically learn how to podcast in the first place - before Dakota Spotlight even existed. In fact, what follows was only the 5th podcast episode I ever put together – back when I was still figuring out how to work a microphone. This is not a true-crime story, and if you are an avid fan of Dakota Spotlight, you may have heard this once before between seasons one and two. But I'm gonna share it again now with a couple of updates.  Why? Well, let me tell you. This story just feels relevant in a way and a much needed reminder in 2023. It's something I believe we can all relate to and be inspired by – and despite all the podcast content I've created since then, this story remains one of my favorites. It's a story about something we all have within us, something we have all felt at times, something you may have been considering as recently as this morning, as y

It's summer 2023. Finally! Dakota Spotlight is in between seasons and in research mode.  Meanwhile here is a story by Trisha Taurinskas at The Vault.  Check out The Vault podcast  email - James at jwolner@forumcomm.comFacebook: facebook.com/groups/dakotaspotlight   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 7 - 15 Years Later. In this, the last scheduled episode of season 8: An interview with Travis Stay's defense attorney Peter Wold. Also we meet Heather (Holter) Keena. She was on the party bus that night and later married Jon 'The Clown.' Also, Sgt Suby at the Grand Forks PD who talks about the current status of the case.  Do you have information or tips about the murder of Joel Lovelien? Use the tip411 app (you may remain anonymous) or call the non-emergency number at Grand Forks Police Department: (701) 787-8000 If there are new developments in this story, Dakota Spotlight will be back with updates. Some music by HandTurner and Wowza in Kalamazoo Check out the full catalog of Dakota Spotlight true crime podcasts at https://dakotaspotlight.com  where you can sign up for a newsletter, subscribe to the new and exciting Spotlight PLUS ad-free experience and much more.  Head over to https://dakotaspotlight.com to learn more.  Advertise your podcast or brand in Dakota Spotlight episodes by sending email to

Episode 6 - Travis on Trial. In this week's episode we dive deep into the 2008 trial of Travis Stay. Travis Stay was found not guilty after14 days of testimony. In this episode we meet Archie Ingersoll who reported on the trial. We also hear from the lead prosecutor, Nancy Yon. Episode 6 of Unresolved-The Murder of Joel Lovelien.   Some music by HandTurner and Wowza in Kalamazoo Check out the full catalog of Dakota Spotlight true crime podcasts at https://dakotaspotlight.com  where you can sign up for a newsletter, subscribe to the new and exciting Spotlight PLUS ad-free experience and much more.  Head over to https://dakotaspotlight.com to learn more.  Advertise your podcast or brand in Dakota Spotlight episodes by sending email to info@sixhorsemedia.com Email: dakotaspotlight@gmail.com Facebook: https://facebook.com/groups/dakotaspotlight Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 5. The Evidence Against Travis Stay. In this week's episode we interview the prosecutors and detectives who investigated Joel's murder and ask "What was the evidence against Travis Stay exactly?" Travis Stay was arrested for the crime but later acquitted in court a year later. Episode 5 of Unresolved-The Murder of Joel Lovelien.   Some music by HandTurner and Wowza in Kalamazoo Check out the full catalog of Dakota Spotlight true crime podcasts at https://dakotaspotlight.com  where you can sign up for a newsletter, subscribe to the new and exciting Spotlight PLUS ad-free experience and much more.  Head over to https://dakotaspotlight.com to learn more.  Advertise your podcast or brand in Dakota Spotlight episodes by sending email to info@sixhorsemedia.com Email: dakotaspotlight@gmail.com Facebook: https://facebook.com/groups/dakotaspotlight Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 4. Remembering Joel Lovelien. In this week's episode we step back from the investigation for a moment and focus on the most important person in this story: Joel Lovelien. Joel's friends and family share their fond memories of the generous and goofy man who consistently brought a smile to those who knew him. Episode 4 of Unresolved-The Murder of Joel Lovelien.   Some music by HandTurner and Wowza in Kalamazoo Check out the full catalog of Dakota Spotlight true crime podcasts at https://dakotaspotlight.com  where you can sign up for a newsletter, subscribe to the new and exciting Spotlight PLUS ad-free experience and much more.  Head over to https://dakotaspotlight.com to learn more.  Advertise your podcast or brand in Dakota Spotlight episodes by sending email to info@sixhorsemedia.com Email: dakotaspotlight@gmail.com Facebook: https://facebook.com/groups/dakotaspotlight Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hey Everyone, I'm working hard on the next episode of Season 8, Unresolved, the murder of Joel Lovelien. Meanwhile, here is part 3 of my colleauge Trisha Taurinska's investigation into the death of Refugio Rodriguez in Montevideo, Minnesota. https://www.inforum.com/news/the-vault/national-expert-weighs-in-on-refugio-rodriguezs-death-investigation-as-new-image-of-body-surfaces Episode 4 of Dakota Spotlight Season 8 will be out on Wed. March 22, 2023 email me at jwolner@forumcomm.com   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 3. Travis Stay, the Man in Yellow. In this episode we track the movements and actions of Travis Stay and his friends. What was going on with him and his friends that weekend just before Halloween? Stay was found not guilty for the murder of Lovelien in December 2008. Episode 3 of Unresolved-The Murder of Joel Lovelien.   Intro and outro music by HandTurner and Wowza in Kalamazoo Check out the full catalog of Dakota Spotlight true crime podcasts at https://dakotaspotlight.com  where you can sign up for a newsletter, subscribe to the new and exciting Spotlight PLUS ad-free experience and much more.  Head over to https://dakotaspotlight.com to learn more.  Advertise your podcast or brand in Dakota Spotlight episodes by sending email to info@sixhorsemedia.com Email: dakotaspotlight@gmail.com Facebook: https://facebook.com/groups/dakotaspotlight Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices