William Billy Wolf Jr was 21 when his dismembered remains were found in two plastic garbage bags in the Red River north of Fargo on August 20, 1978. Identification by dental records followed after a couple of days. An autopsy showed multiple knife wounds to his neck. His family had reported him missing in the week before the discovery.

The investigation involved Fargo, Moorhead, Clay County and Cass County law enforcement and the FBI. One person was arrested early on but charges were dropped. Authorities have said they believe they know who was responsible but have lacked the evidence to prosecute. Theories mentioned over time have ranged from a drug deal gone wrong to ties to a local mafia, none substantiated.

The case remains an open cold case handled by the Fargo Police Department and the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation. If anyone has information about William Wolf’s last movements or the events leading to August 20, 1978, please come forward.