Woman and children found safe, suspect arrested after man’s murder

The woman and her four children kidnapped from Crow Wing County Friday morning have been found safe and the man suspected of kidnapping them — and also killing a 62-year-old man prior to the kidnapping — has been arrested.

The Crow Wing County Sheriff’s Office has confirmed that 35-year-old Chad Aanerud was taken into custody at 7:15 a.m. during a traffic stop in Morrison County.

His girlfriend, Nikkole Dobson, 33, and her four children Brandon, 14, Haley, 11, Gracie, 7, and Chloe, 3, were found safe in the vehicle after they were allegedly kidnapped at gunpoint by Aanerud.

The sheriff’s office also confirmed that a 62-year-old man, Lyle Maske, of Brainerd, was found fatally shot on Loerch Road, near where the family was kidnapped, and says Aanerud is a suspect in his murder .

“The sheriff’s office has reason to believe the shooting and apparent kidnapping are related incidents,” the statement said.

More details are expected to be announced later on Friday.

According to the Minnesota BCA, Aanerud arrived at the home on the 15000 block of Loerch Road, “fired a shotgun into the ceiling of the residence and forced Dobson and her children to leave with him.”

Note: Details in this story are based on law enforcement’s latest version of events and may be subject to change.

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