Man Sentenced to Life in Prison for Arson, Kidnapping, and Murder

(KNSI) — The man accused of kidnapping his girlfriend, their kids, setting their house on fire and killing a neighbor in November 2024 has been sentenced to life in prison.

Chad Aaron Aanerud was 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. The charges were later amended and increased to first-degree murder, which automatically triggers a life sentence. He pleaded guilty in December to murder, assault, kidnapping and burglary. More than a dozen different charges, including additional counts of arson, assault, criminal sexual conduct, kidnapping and murder, were dismissed.

According to court records from Crow Wing County, police responded to a call in Brainerd in the early morning hours of November 1st, 2024, 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 investigating, they noticed that a building on 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. Dobson’s children came over and announced Aanerud was “robbing grandpa and grandma’s house.” The woman and Maske drove there to investigate, with Maske staying behind and the woman going back home to stay with the kids. After she returned, 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 going to Maske’s house, taking the kids, and then driving away.

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