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The Only Unsolved Murder in Martin County, Minnesota
In 1975, JoAnn Bontjes was an ambitious hairdresser, young and headstrong. That year, she would be abducted on the side of the road, shot, and killed.
Bontjes lived and died in rural Minnesota, the victim of a disturbing and heinous abduction and murder that most people have never heard about.
Admittedly, this is a difficult case to research. There’s not much information available, and I was only pointed to this case from a Reddit thread.
Bontjes’ death remains the only unsolved murder in the state’s Martin County.
JoAnn Bontjes Isn’t Forgotten
While Bontjes’ case has gone unsolved, she certainly hasn’t been forgotten. A former police chief named Don Mickelson has been researching the case and posting his thoughts and findings to Facebook via a page called Justice for JoAnn Bontjes. While Mickelson did not work her case during his police career, he appears dedicated to solving it now.
Bontjes was a successful woman who had a salon and a reputation as a good hairdresser in her community, all by the time she turned 21.
Based on the information available in news reports, Mickelson’s Facebook group, and an examination of maps of the area, this is what I’ve been able to put together.
One October Night
October 1, 1975, is the last night Bontjes was seen in public. She apparently spent part of her evening at the Knights Lounge in Ormsby, which is right off MN-4.
Looking at Google Maps, the area surrounding the Knights Lounge is desolate with little nearby. This will be a theme for all locations involved. I’m including a photo so that you can get an idea of what the area off the highway looks like.
Apparently, Bontjes told people she was driving to Trimont, which is north of Sherburn, where she lived with her parents. She reportedly left a Trimont bar around 12:30 a.m. on October 2 and began driving south.
