Three indicted in 1985 Winona murder

Associated Press

Last update: July 4, 2008 - 12:16 AM

WINONA, Minn. - A Winona County grand jury has indicted three people in the 23-year-old murder of Ada Frances Senenfelder, a mother of five who was stabbed to death in her Winona home in an apparent case of revenge.

Indictments were returned this week against Jack Willis Nissalke, 42, of Winona; James Raymond Bolstad, 62, of Oshkosh, Wis.; and Linda Mae Parish, 46, of Prairie du Chien, Wis.

All three face first-degree murder charges. They are already in custody: Nissalke in Winona and Parish in Wisconsin. Bolstad is currently in Wisconsin State Prison in Oshkosh on an unrelated conviction, and will be extradited to Minnesota.

The murder investigation ran cold shortly after Senenfelder's death in 1985, but it was reopened in 2006 by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension's Cold Case Unit, which offered a $50,000 reward for fresh tips.

DNA evidence found at the scene was reexamined with modern technology, and investigators say evidence proves Nissalke was involved.

"It's not unsolved anymore," said Winona County Attorney Chuck MacLean. "The grand jury did a wonderful job."

Nissalke's attorney and family say he did not kill the woman.

A criminal complaint filed in district court describes the case as a plot of revenge carried out by an apparent gang enforcer.

Just before her death, Senenfelder, 40, gave a statement about Bolstad to a probation officer, court records show. Bolstad was being held in La Crosse County, Wis., on possible revocation of his probation. His associates, including Nissalke, are accused of pressuring and threatening Senenfelder so she would change her statement so Bolstad could be released.

Senenfelder met with the probation agent and Nissalke in her home June 5, 1985, according to the complaint. Senenfelder handed over a notarized, written statement recanting charges against Bolstad but also "nonverbally affirmed" the statement.

Prosecutors suspect Nissalke attended a party later that night where he and others in the gang planned to kill Senenfelder. Court documents show Nissalke was seen later that night with his hand wrapped in a blood-soaked cloth.

Senenfelder was found the next day, dead from multiple stab wounds. Police found a knife, male DNA and other evidence.

Witness statements say Nissalke's associates cleaned out their cars after the stabbing and disposed of a shirt and pants with "dark stains."

On at least 30 separate occasions after that, Nissalke bragged about the killing. He also threatened people, saying, "If you're snitching, I'll stab you like I stabbed (Senenfelder)," the complaint says.

Nissalke's first court appearance on the indictments is set for 1:30 p.m. Monday. He is being held in lieu of $5 million bail.

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Information from: Winona Daily News, http://www.winonadailynews.com