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Mandan Police Chief Jason Ziegler announces the arrest of a quadruple homicide at a press conference on Thursday evening, July 4, 2019, in Mandan, ND. At the back Deputy Chief of Police Lori Flaten, left, and Mandan Mayor Tim Helbling. North Dakota police said they arrested a 44-year-old man who killed four people earlier this week in a shop in Mandan. According to Ziegler, the surveillance video identified an interesting vehicle and took them to the suspect, who lived in the small town of Washburn, about 56 km north of Mandan. (Tom Stromme / The Bismarck Tribune via AP)
MANDAN, N.D. – Police, following evidence contained in the surveillance video, on Thursday arrested a 44-year-old man in the killing of four people in a real estate management company, just days after the discovery of their bodies in a city in North Dakota.
The Mandan police chief, Jason Ziegler, announced the arrest at a press conference Thursday night, saying the police had no motive yet, but noting that the suspect was living on a property managed by RJR Maintenance and Management.
Ziegler said the suspect was living in Washburn, a town about 35 miles north of Mandan, and was arrested without incident. He had not been formally charged, but was suspected of four counts of murder.
"The evidence found on (the suspect) and in the vehicle provided a probable cause for arresting him for the murders," said Ziegler. He did not specify the evidence.
The dead were identified earlier this week as RJR co-owner Robert Fakler, 52, and employees, Adam Fuehrer, 42. Lois Cobb, 45; and William Cobb, 50 years old. The Cobbs were married.
Ziegler also revealed Thursday night that the four men were shot or gunshot wounded.
Police had published little information about their investigation in the days following the discovery of the bodies after the authorities responded to a medical appeal issued Monday. Homicides are unusual in Mandan, a town of about 22,000 inhabitants located across the Missouri River, in the capital of Bismarck State, which has not known since 2016 – and has only had three in the last six years.
"It has been a tough week for everyone," said Mayor Tim Helbling.
An appearance in court was probably Friday. The murder committed by Felony entails a maximum sentence of life in prison without parole. North Dakota does not have the death penalty.
The suspect did not have a criminal record immediately apparent in a state or federal court of North Dakota.
Ziegler said the police were not looking for anyone else and was focusing on "putting everything in place so we could sue and bring the suspect to justice."
He added: "Just because we have it, it's far from over. Now comes the long process of lawsuits."
It was not immediately clear if the man had a lawyer who represented him.
Police had stated that the attack "specifically targeted the victims" and that they did not think that the public was in danger. Ziegler refused to say if all four were targeted.
Earlier Thursday, the police refused to disclose the details of a 911 call that alerted the authorities about the murders. Associated Press and other media outlets asked for audio and a transcript of the 911 call, but the police rejected the applications, citing a provision of state law on open archives that allows the authorities to retain this information during an active investigation.
The company's website says that it has been managing commercial and residential properties in the area for over 20 years. Its services include rent collection for homeowners, mortgage payments, apartment relocation, building and grounds maintenance, lawn care and snow removal. It also rents storage units.
The RJR building is a bit isolated despite its location in a business district near a busy main street called The Strip. A large empty lot sits at the front, a golf course at the back and a football complex on the side.
A combined memorial service for the victims was scheduled Tuesday at the Bismarck Church, according to Eastgate's funeral and cremation service.
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