Click here to view Winona Area Weather
Home > News > Story
 Advertisement 

SECTION SPONSORS


Published - Tuesday, June 24, 2008
POST COMMENT | READ COMMENTS (16 comment(s))

Nissalke wants to see the evidence; County attorney says grand jury must indict accused killer first

.
Jack Willis Nissalke, the man accused of killing Ada Frances Senenfelder in 1985, Winona’s only unsolved homicide investigation, wants to see the evidence against him.

He’s going to have to wait. Though he’s been charged with two counts each of aiding and abetting first- and second-degree murder, he’s yet to be indicted by a grand jury, a legal requirement in order for him to be convicted of the serious felony charges.
A grand jury has been convened, but it has yet to issue an indictment and Winona County Attorney Chuck MacLean said it could possibly take weeks before it concludes.

Senenfelder died of multiple stab wounds in her home on

June 6, 1985. A police complaint alleges Nissalke killed the mother of four to keep her from testifying against an associate of his.

The investigation grew cold over the years, but the case was re-opened in 2006 by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension’s Cold Case Unit, which offered a $50,000 reward for any useful information about the case. DNA evidence found at the scene of the murder was recently re-examined with more modern techniques, and authorities say Nissalke cannot be excluded from being a contributor of that DNA.

Daniel Koewler, representing Nissalke in place of his usual attorney, Charles Ramsey, told Judge Terrance Walters on Thursday that his office still had not received any physical evidence from the Winona County Attorney’s office.

“If there is something available, we’d like to see it,” Koewler said.

Because the grand jury is still in session, none of that evidence can be turned over to the defense, said Winona County Attorney Chuck MacLean. Walters agreed, but asked MacLean when the grand jury was likely to decide whether or not it will reach an indictment.

“It will continue for a number of days, possibly weeks,” MacLean said.

Koewler also asked for a speedy trial for his client and for the murder charge to be combined with the assault charge. To do so, Koewler asked that Walters preside over both cases, taking the assault case, which is currently being heard by Judge Mary Leahy.

Walters said he would discuss the issue with Leahy, but that he had no problem doing so if she agreed.

Nissalke is currently in the Winona County Jail with bail set at $5 million.

Nissalke’s attorney and family maintain authorities have the wrong man and say police are pressuring him for information he doesn’t have.
.




Advertisement
 Tell us what you think...

 Comments »

grammajewel wrote on Jun 29, 2008 10:06 AM:

" Everybody out there saying all the police officers etc.are bad are wrong,just like every group of people you have the good and the rotten apples but from what I,ve heard this case has been invesgated many times in the last 20 years can not be excludede,flight risk,serving murder warrent just as he getting bonded out for other bogus charges, i'm praying that anybody going in front of this grand jury has trouble telling any lies if they tell the truth,then from what i've been told theres no way jack could have been there "

cewoodford wrote on Jun 27, 2008 10:59 AM:

" The Winona Law Enforcemet professionals are some of the best around. You people who complain about the job they do and their morality have obviously never been around a truly corrupt force. Count your blessings, these people are underpaid and they risk their lives for you. Who do you call at 4.am when you hear a bump in the night? Who comes out without question to save your ass? Also, anyone here who insinuates that "we all know who did it" is a fool. How anyone could possibly sit on the knowledge of who beheaded a Winona resident is beyond me. That was a brutal murder. "

rat wrote on Jun 26, 2008 10:56 AM:

" Wasn't Ada older and Partying with the younger crowed. I bet anyones DNA could of been found at her residence. Didn't she leak info about guns stolen from WI and Mr. Fort went to Fed. prison. Maybe the police should of Question Mr. fort before he passed away. If persistant you will find the real people guilty. From my understanding you apprehended the wrong person and there is more than I person guilty. "

Average Joe wrote on Jun 25, 2008 11:23 AM:

" Here's a guy who has requested a POLYGRAPH more than once... Given his DNA three times, two willingly! The third time police aggressivly went to his house for it ,which, resulted in a assult charge for Jack. "MMMM" Maybe if the police would of called jack up and asked him for his DNA he would of given it up willingly for a third time!!!! "MMM" Why all the samples????? Jack Nissalke's DNA cannot be excluded from being a contributor. "MMM" Must not be a match then... I wonder if any white male with brown hair could be a contributor?????? Does anybody else smell something fishy here????? And he has been in jail for a month!!!!! WOW!!! "

Me wrote on Jun 25, 2008 5:32 AM:

" JED- Those CSI shows are paying off aren't they? How many different people attend this church? Could the person that did it also be a member of the church? Finger prints wouldn't prove a thing then. "

east of the hogline wrote on Jun 24, 2008 11:25 PM:

" There have been a few great cops in Winona. We all miss Art, Uncle Milty, & Gabbert.

And then the few bad eggs.My personal ego crazed favorites include Rich Mueller (shot himself after being investigated for rape and other charges related to a love gone wrong), Gary Hoeppner (just recently on administrative leave for attacking some dude that stole his squad out of his garage). And of course there are the 5 foot tall, 145 lb. "quotacops" (small men and females) that just want to grow up to be real cops someday! "

Sherlock wrote on Jun 24, 2008 9:51 PM:

" Jed, being the law enforcement great that you apparently are, you should go down to the law enforcement center and teach those keystone cops how to do their job. "

JED wrote on Jun 24, 2008 7:54 PM:

" It's possible for everyone to know who did something and yet, not be able to prove it. The Winona police aren't particularly good. A local church was broken into several times. The police could have at least checked for finger prints and didn't. With high traffic, the odds may not have been too great. However, no effort was made to find out who was responsible other than taking statements. "

Me wrote on Jun 24, 2008 4:58 PM:

" To Almostthere-If you are making the comment that Winona investigators are "mediocre", I'd like you to back up what you are saying with facts. If been reading the newspaper and have read about the numerous sex assaults, drug dealers, home invasions, burglaries and robberies that have been solved be those that you are calling "mediocre". I know a few of the invesitgators and they are highly educated, real go getters, and the cream of the crop. So, back up your words with facts, please. "

grammajewel wrote on Jun 24, 2008 2:57 PM:

" This is to the people who are calling Jack a loser and saying that everyone in town back then knew he did it!! Funny how the police didn't seem to think so and everybody whom I've talked to says they know who did it to and none of them mention Jack at all. Lots of other names but not his. I think alot of these comments are coming from people who were involved or the stock car drivers who aren't going to get beat by him this year!! "

J.D. wrote on Jun 24, 2008 1:37 PM:

" I do not believe for one minute that either the judge, DA or anyone is looking to better themselves. The cold case wasn't re-opened by anyone from Winona, it was opened by the MN BCA. If there wasn't sufficient evidence, there wouldn't have been an arrest made. Besides, anyone living here when this happened knows who was involved. It was just a matter of time before he got caught. I hope he rots in jail, that would be one more loser off the Winona streets. "

almostthere wrote on Jun 24, 2008 11:42 AM:

" This entire case looks loaded with desperation. With DNA profiling becoming a reliable tool for solving cold cases mediocre detectives and prosecutors try to grab these old cases in hopes for fame and promotion. The problem is that justice is not the primary objective and can ruin innocent peoples lives. "

heresathought wrote on Jun 24, 2008 10:29 AM:

" to wethepeople, I don't get your comment regarding the DNA. I understand that to mean the DNA matched and proves he was at least there. Anyway, everyone in Winona around back then new who was involved. There's more to this that'll come out. I personally think it's awesome that Nissalke has turned into such a wonderful example of a human being, or so his supporters think. That's just going to make his punishment more fitting when he's locked up. "

cewoodford wrote on Jun 24, 2008 9:24 AM:

" MacLean has ZERO business being a County Prosecutor, let alone a Judge. "

cewoodford wrote on Jun 24, 2008 9:23 AM:

" MacLean is running for a judges seat? Seriously? Has he reimbursed Winona taxpayers for that 80 frivilous felony charges he filed against that one man? This guy wants to be a judge? Aren't judges supposed to be able to show impartiality? MacLean as a judge? I'd be afraid enough facing him as a prosecutor for feer of personal vendetta... "

WeThePeople wrote on Jun 24, 2008 7:51 AM:

" Prosecutor doesn't have any evidence or this wouldn't be taking so long ~ The prosecutions theory isn't working out the way they wanted it too. "Cannot be EXCLUDED from" wow... about 100 people fit that catagory. Pomeroy retiring and MacLean running for Judge in Waseca Co. want to look like hero's alla sudden. Hmmmm...... God Bless Us All. "


The comments above are from readers. In no way do they represent the views of the Winona Daily News.

 Post a comment (150 word limit) »

Click here to report offensive or inappropriate comments. Please identify the comment you're concerned about, the story to which the comment was attached, the date of the comment and the person who made the post. Send comments to jerome.christenson@lee.net

We reserve the right not to post reader comments containing racial, religious or personal attacks, slander, profanity, e-mail addresses, mailing addresses, phone numbers or Web site addresses that are for personal or promotional gain.
Log In - If you have already signed up with winonadailynews.com, please sign in now!
*Member ID:
*Password:
  Forgot Your Password?
 
Sign Up - To encourage intelligent and meaningful conversation, winonadailynews.com requires all commenters to register before posting comments. It's quick, it's easy, and it's free! Just fill in the information below to get started!

**Your Member ID and password will be required to log in. Your comments will appear under your user name.

Do not use usernames or passwords from your financial accounts!

Note: Fields marked with an asterisk (*) are required!

*Create a Member ID:
*Choose a password:
*Re-enter password:
*E-mail Address:
*Year of Birth:
 

(children under 13 cannot register)

*First Name:
*Last Name:
Company:
Home Phone:
Business Phone:
*Address:
*City:
*State:
*Zip Code:
 

NEWSPAPER ADS

WINONA JOBS

TOP HOMES

HomeSeller
Top Homes



 
 
Dailies
La Crosse Tribune
Winona Daily News

Weeklies
Coulee News
Courier Life News
The Chronicle
Houston County News
Tomah Journal
Vernon Broadcaster
Westby Times

Regional
Inside Preps
My LIVE! Entertainment
Best of River Valley
Business Report
Healthy Living Today
Strictly Golf
River Valley Bike Trails
River Valley Blogs
River Valley Outdoors

Shoppers
Tri-County Foxxy

Marketplace
Newspaper Ads
Local Website Directory
7 Rivers Rentals
HomeSeller
Wheels Website
Outdoor Motors
Work For You

Portals
La Crosse NET
Winona NET

Classifieds
River Valley Classifieds

Links
Lee Enterprises
Minnesota Farm Guide

About Us | Classifieds | Contact Us | Terms of Use | F.A.Q. | Privacy Policy | Requests | Search | RSS | Videos | Advertiser Directory | Add to My Yahoo!
Copyright © 1997 - 2008 The Winona Daily News. All rights reserved.
Material from this site may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed. A Lee Enterprises subsidiary.