On the afternoon of October 31, 2018, the body of 24-year-old David Medellin Jr., a White man from Willmar, Minnesota, was found in a plowed farm field east of the city near 49th Street NE and 8th Avenue NE. Medellin had not been heard from by his family since October 24. An autopsy by the Midwest Medical Examiner’s Office ruled his death a homicide, with investigators noting a large stab wound in his back.

A joint investigation by the Kandiyohi County Sheriff’s Office, Willmar Police Department, Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and the CEE-VI Drug and Gang Task Force led to two arrests on November 5, 2018. Authorities charged 35-year-old Caleb Blue with second-degree murder and charged Lori Gaffin, a former county corrections officer, with three counts including aiding an offender. The criminal complaint says Blue and Medellin were en route from a casino when Blue pulled into a field and stabbed Medellin, and that Blue later called Gaffin to pick him up; Blue was found with a severe knife injury to his hand and, according to the complaint, admitted to stabbing Medellin.

A clear motive has not been released. If anyone knew Medellin, his movements that week, or saw activity near 49th Street NE and 8th Avenue NE around October 24–31, 2018, please share what is known.