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Jack Willis Nissalke, 42, of Winona, Linda Mae Parrish, 46, of Prairie du Chien, Wis., and James Raymond Bolstad, 62, currently of Oshkosh, Wis., all face first-degree murder charges in relation to the killing after a grand jury voted Tuesday to indict.
The indictments are the culmination of a renewed investigation into Senenfelder’s death, which occurred in June 1985. The case ran cold shortly after she was found stabbed in her home but was reopened in 2006 by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension’s Cold Case Unit, which offered a $50,000 reward for fresh tips.
DNA evidence found at the scene was recently re-examined with more modern techniques, investigators say. That evidence could not exclude Nissalke from involvement in the killing.
But his attorney and family claim prosecutors have accused the wrong person of murder.
A grand jury convened about a month ago to consider new evidence in the 23-year-old unsolved homicide.
“It’s not unsolved anymore,” said Winona County Attorney Chuck MacLean, who will prosecute the cases with Tom Gort, an assistant county attorney. “The grand jury did a wonderful job.”
The grand jury issued a first-degree murder indictment for Nissalke, who is already being held in connection with Senenfelder’s death and was recently charged with two counts each of aiding and abetting first- and second-degree murder. Indictments against Nissalke were also issued for aiding and abetting murder in the first degree, murder in the first degree with intent during first-degree witness tampering and aiding and abetting murder in the first degree with intent during first-degree witness tampering.
The grand jury indicted Parrish for aiding and abetting murder in the first degree with intent and premeditation and aiding and abetting murder in the first degree with intent during first-degree witness tampering.
Bolstad also faces an indictment of aiding and abetting murder in the first degree with intent during first-degree witness tampering. Bolstad is presently in the Oshkosh Correctional Facility for violating parole by being a felon in possession of a firearm.
It was unclear Wednesday if Parrish or Bolstad had obtained legal counsel.
Grand jury testimony is secret, but a criminal complaint filed in district court to hold Nissalke in jail on charges related to the murder case outlines a plot of revenge carried out by an apparent gang enforcer.
Just before her death, Senenfelder made a statement to a probation agent about Bolstad, who was being held in La Crosse County, Wis., on possible revocation of his probation, court records show. His associates, including Nissalke, pressured and threatened Senenfelder by stealing from her so she would change her statement so Bolstad could be released, authorities allege.
Senenfelder met with the probation agent and Nissalke in her home June 5, 1985, according to the complaint. Senenfelder handed over a notarized, written statement recanting the charges against Bolstad but also “nonverbally affirmed” the statement during the meeting.
Prosecutors suspect Nissalke attended a party later that night where he and others in the same gang planned to kill Senenfelder. Nissalke was seen later that night with his hand wrapped in a blood-soaked cloth, the complaint alleges.
A neighbor looked through Senenfelder’s window at about 10:45 a.m. the next day and saw her on the floor. Police arrived and found her dead in her bedroom from multiple stab wounds. They also discovered a knife, male DNA and other biological samples at the scene.
According to witness statements, Nissalke’s associates cleaned out their cars immediately after the stabbing and disposed of a shirt and pants with “dark stains.”
On at least 30 separate occasions after the killing, Nissalke bragged about it, according to the complaint. He also threatened people, saying, “If you’re snitching, I’ll stab you like I stabbed (Senenfelder),” the complaint states.
MacLean declined to say how investigators think Parrish is involved.
Nissalke’s first appearance on the indictments is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Monday. He is being held in lieu of $5 million bail. Parrish is in custody in Crawford County, Wis., and may be brought to Winona County, a process that could take up to two months if she fights extradition.
Bolstad will also be brought to Winona County to face charges. He could chose to wait until his current prison term expires next year, or he could elect to face the charges immediately.
