Chris's Crime Forum

19 years after Minneapolis slaying, a DNA match


Brenda Pikala was stabbed in '89 while sitting beneath a footbridge across Minnehaha Creek in Minneapolis; now, skin under her fingernails has led to murder charges
An hour after dropping off her 8-year-old son with family, Brenda Pikala was stabbed repeatedly while sitting beneath a footbridge across Minnehaha Creek in Minneapolis. Her little boy helped read part of the eulogy at her funeral. That was 19 years ago.

Although police had a knife sheath, partial bottle of Pepsi, black comb and skin of a potential suspect under her fingernails, DNA testing was in its infancy in 1989. That same evidence has now put a man behind bars in connection with her killing.

Actually, Alfred L. Moen was already in a cell at Lino Lakes prison for violation of probation on a drunken driving charge when Sgt. Barb Moe of Minneapolis' cold case unit had "a very interesting talk" with him last week. He didn't know Pikala's name. Didn't recognize her picture. Police don't know why he might have killed the 29-year-old mother.

"You could say I caught him off guard," she said.

Moen, 44, was charged Monday with second-degree murder. DNA evidence linked Moen to the case in April, but the detectives wanted to make sure the case was rock solid before informing Pikala's relatives last week. Her father died two weeks ago and her mother seven years earlier.

It is the first solved case for the cold case unit that consists of Moe and Sgt. Tammy Diedrich. Both investigators had worked in the homicide unit and joined the new cold case unit in January.

"It's been absolutely worthwhile," Moe said.

Pikala grew up in north Minneapolis and fell into a life of drugs and alcohol, said her sister, Theresa Pikala. She was unemployed, but had been taking accounting classes. The night she died, Brenda Pikala planned to see a movie with her son, Nicholas, but he changed his mind.

About 9:30 p.m. on Sept. 1, she approached a car on Minnehaha Parkway. Staggering and bleeding heavily, she said, "Please help me, I am dying," according to a court document. A doctor on the block provided aid, but she died at the scene.




link

I received a message from Theresa (Brenda's sister) informing me that a tril date is set for September

To Brenda's Family..it will be a long road ahead.. you are in our thoughts and prayers

Theresa (Brenda's sister) has informed me that the jury selection will be held on Septerber 14th 2009, and a week later the trial will begin.
I will keep you all informed.


Sharron Prior website

Man Sentenced 20 Years After Woman's Murder..this is all he received...possibility out in 15 years on good behavior...Justice stinks

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) ―

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Alfred Lee Moen, 44, was sentenced in the stabbing death of 29-year-old Brenda Pikala.



A man has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for the 1989 stabbing death of 29-year-old Brenda Pikala.Last September, Alfred Lee Moen was charged with the murder of Pikala, who was stabbed to death under a footbridge near Minnehaha Creek two decades ago this month at the intersection of Minnehaha Parkway and 3rd Avenue South.

When he was charged with Pikala's death, Moen was already in prison for violating probation on a drunken driving charge, was connected to the case thanks to DNA evidence.

According to the charges, tests performed on evidence retrieved from the scene of the crime and skin samples found underneath the victim's fingernails led to the arrest.

According to the charges, DNA typing would not have been able to be performed on the items seized from the crime scene -- a knife sheath, a bottle of Pepsi and a black comb.

http://wcco.com/local/cold.case.stabbing.2.1172745.html