Jack Willis Nissalke made his first appearance today on charges that allege he murdered Ada Frances Senenfelder 23 years ago. Fillmore County Judge Robert Benson set Nissalke's bail at $5 million.
Winona County Attorney Chuck MacLean argued for the high bail because of Nissalke's previous convictions for aggravated robbery, theft and escape from custody. MacLean also said Nissalke's over-the-road trucking job often carries him out of state, making him a risk to never return to court.
Nissalke's attorney, Chuck Ramsay, said his client's previous felonies happened in the 1980s and he has since cleaned up his act, becoming a family man who is well-respected in the community. He said the prosecutors and the police were stooping to unethical and extreme tactics to put the blame on Nissalke for a cold case they were frustrated they couldn't solve.
He said Nissalke deserved to be released on $100,000 bond he already posted for an assault case stemming from an incident May 22. Nissalke is accused of threatening officers then with a metal bar when they showed up at his house with a warrant to obtain hair and blood samples for the murder investigation.
Benson, appearing on closed circuit television from Fillmore County, said there was a lot of information in the case he doesn't yet have, but he had a large concern for public safety. He said Nissalke has now been charged with "the most serious crime in Minnesota" by allegedly killing a person for being a witness to another crime. He set unconditional bail at $5 million. A lesser, conditional bond was not set.
Nissalke was charged Monday with aiding and abetting first- and second-degree murder for allegedly stabbing Senenfelder in her home June 5 or 6, 1985. According to the criminal complaint, he killed her in retaliation for "snitching" on an associate in a gang. He faces life imprisonment if convicted of first-degree murder.
Nissalke's next court appearance is scheduled for June 23.

