Dru Sjodin was a relatable figure, embodying the roles of a daughter, sister, or close friend. Her abduction on November 22, 2003, from a Grand Forks mall struck a chord with anyone who heard her story.
Months later, her lifeless body was discovered in a Minnesota ditch, leaving a community in mourning. So, what exactly had happened to her?
On November 22, 2003, Dru Katrina Sjodin vanished from a mall parking lot. Her last contact was a chilling call to her boyfriend, Chris Lang. Months later, her lifeless body was found in a Crookston, Minnesota ditch. Alfonso Rodriguez Jr., a registered level-3 sex offender, was arrested. He was initially sentenced to death in August 2006 but later had his sentence changed to life imprisonment on May 18, 2023, due to mental health evidence limitations. Rodriguez currently serves his sentence at the United States Penitentiary Coleman II in Florida.
What Is the Case of Dru Sjodin?
Born on September 26, 1981, in the serene town of Pequot Lakes, Minnesota, Dru Katrina Sjodin’s life held the promise of a bright future.
The daughter of Linda Walker and Allan Sjodin, she hailed from a close-knit family and shared her childhood with her brother, Sven Sjodin.
As a dedicated Gamma Phi Beta sorority member, she formed a strong bond with her sorority sister, Britni Schmalz.
Dru was not only focused on her studies but also worked diligently to support her family and fulfill her dreams. She held jobs at the Victoria’s Secret store in the Columbia Mall in North Dakota’s Grand Forks and also worked at the El Roco nightclub.
Dru was pursuing her education at the University of North Dakota when an unimaginable tragedy struck her peaceful existence.
November 22, 2003, started like any other day in Dru’s life, but it would tragically become her last.
After completing her shift and purchasing a new purse from Marshall Field’s around 4 pm, the 22-year-old left work and engaged in a phone call with her then-boyfriend, Chris Lang, as she headed to her car in the mall parking lot.
During the call, their conversation abruptly ended, with Dru uttering the chilling words, “Oh, my God.”
Nearly three hours later, Chris received another call from Dru, but this time, all he heard were the sounds of buttons being pressed.
Alarmed by her absence at her second job, Dru’s family reported her disappearance to the authorities.
Months passed, and the grim discovery was made on April 17, 2004, when Dru’s lifeless body was found in a ditch near Crookston, Minnesota.
She was found partially clothed, with her hands bound and lacerations on her body, including a severe cut on her neck. A rope and remnants of a shopping bag were also found around her neck.
Autopsy results revealed that the cause of Dru’s death could be attributed to a major neck wound, suffocation, or exposure to the elements.
So, how did she die?
Explained: How Did Dru Sjodin Die? Was She Killed?
As detectives delved into Dru Katrina Sjodin’s case, they uncovered a series of chilling events that would lead to the arrest and conviction of a heinous perpetrator.
The investigation took a grim turn when it was revealed that Dru’s second call to her boyfriend originated from Fisher, Minnesota.
This critical detail led the authorities to a chilling suspect: a 50-year-old registered level-3 sex offender named Alfonso Rodriguez Jr., who resided in Crookston, Minnesota.
Alfonso Rodriguez Jr.’s dark history was haunting. He had previously served a 23-year sentence for aggravated assault, rape, and kidnapping. Just months before Dru’s disappearance, he had been released from prison.
When questioned by the police, Alfonso provided a false alibi, claiming to have watched a movie at a local cinema that wasn’t playing on the said evening.
Further investigation uncovered damning evidence.
Receipts pointed to purchases near the mall, including a knife from a nearby store, and two toolkit knives were found in his possession.
A search of Alfonso’s car yielded even more incriminating findings- a woman’s shoe, a toolkit knife soaked in cleaning solution, and a bloody knife matching Dru’s DNA.
With the mounting evidence against him, Alfonso Rodriguez Jr. stood trial for the kidnapping and murder of Dru Sjodin. In August 2006, he was found guilty, and a month later, the jury sentenced him to death, bringing some semblance of justice to Dru’s grieving family.
However, Alfonso’s fate took an unexpected turn in September 2021 when a judge overturned his death sentence due to limitations on mental health evidence during his trial.
After a reevaluation, on May 18, 2023, he received a life imprisonment sentence without the possibility of parole.
Today, Alfonso Rodriguez Jr. serves his life sentence at the famed United States Penitentiary Coleman II in Florida.
Dru’s tragic case spurred legislative action, leading to the renaming of the National Sex Offender Public Registry to the Dru Sjodin National Sex Offender Public Website.
Throughout this harrowing journey, Dru’s mother, Linda Walker, expressed the profound impact on their family and the outpouring of support they received.
She shared (via Twin Cities):
“In the midst of being in such despair, I can’t even describe the feelings of knowing I’m never going to have my daughter back. But the uplifting from the people who reached out carried us and still does until this today, more than I can put into words.”
By all accounts, Dru Sjodin was a cheerful young woman who cherished life and displayed unwavering kindness to those around her.
Her friend, Britni Schmalz, remembered her as someone who recognized the uniqueness in everyone, making the world a better place with her presence.
Dru’s tragic story serves as a reminder of the preciousness of life and the devastating impact of senseless violence.
ABC 20/20’s “Missing From The Mall” takes a look at this case. It premieres on the network on January 12, 2024, at 9 p.m. ET.
What do you think about Dru’s case?
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