Suspect Who Kidnapped Pregnant Woman and Her Four Children Charged

(KNSI) — The man accused of abducting his girlfriend and her four children at gunpoint, prompting a statewide AMBER Alert, is now facing multiple charges.

According to court records from Crow Wing County, police responded to a call in Brainerd early Friday morning and found 62-year-old Lyle Maske lying in his neighbor’s driveway. Lifesaving measures were taken at the scene, but he was pronounced dead. While first responders were there investigating, they noticed a building at a nearby property was fully engulfed in flames.

A woman who lived with Maske and his wife told investigators that Nikkole Dobson and her children had been staying nearby. Shortly before the shooting, Dobson’s children arrived at Maske’s home, saying Aanerud was “robbing grandpa and grandma’s house.” The woman and Maske drove to investigate, with Maske staying behind and the woman later returning to stay with the kids. After she got back, Aanerud soon arrived in a van with Dobson, and he was armed with a rifle, demanding she hand over his kids. He allegedly forced his way inside, firing a shot into the ceiling and threatening the woman and Maske’s wife before taking the children at gunpoint and leaving at a high rate of speed.

After an exhaustive search turned up nothing, an AMBER Alert was issued around 6:40 a.m. Aanerud was taken into custody about 40 minutes later near Little Falls. Dobson and her children were found in the van, along with 13 stolen guns.

Dobson told police she and Aanerud were arguing Thursday night when Aanerud allegedly threatened to shoot the children with a gun before sexually assaulting her. She said he later began pouring gasoline around the house and stealing the guns. She woke up her kids and told them to go to Maske’s house.

In a statement, Aanerud claimed he shot Maske accidentally after he “stuck his nose” where it didn’t belong. He said he set the house on fire as part of a staged burglary for insurance purposes. However, the owners said the house was uninsured. He also admitted to going to Maske’s house and taking the kids before driving away.

Aanerud is charged with second degree murder with intent – not premeditated, second degree murder without intent while committing a felony, first degree criminal sexual conduct, five counts of kidnapping, first degree arson, two counts of second degree assault, and theft.

Bail was set at $3 million.

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