Eagan man suspected of trying to blackmail teachers, coaches

Notes taped to houses demanded $1,000 to keep the suspect from ruining their careers with sexual allegations. An Eagan man is expected to be charged today.

By PAUL WALSH and ABBY SIMONS, Star Tribune

Last update: April 22, 2008 - 5:34 PM

One by one, 23 teachers and coaches in the Twin Cities south metro found the typed notes taped to their homes.

The unsigned letters, which identified the author only as a staff member at the school who claimed to have military and police connections, listed a litany of threats to be carried out unless $1,000 was handed over.

The letters made serious threats: Child pornography would be planted. There would be allegations of sexual misconduct with students.

"At any rate your career would be over. You would never shake the accusations," the letter read.

And the threatener said he wasn't acting alone: "I have hired several students to help me in this. It's amazing what kids will do for 50 bucks."

Many of the letters directed that the money should be taped beneath a bench in a south-metro park.

Authorities quickly jailed a suspect: Eric L. Syverson, 39, of Eagan. He's suspected of delivering letters to 23 teachers, coaches and other employees of several south metro schools. Charges against Syverson are expected today, said Dakota County Attorney James Backstrom.

Several letters threatened the recipients, some of whom double as coaches, with blackmail in the form of information about alleged sexual misbehavior, said Eagan police Sgt. Steve Bolluyt.

The letters were discovered throughout last week, and Syverson was apprehended Saturday. Charges of disturbing the peace and felony harassment are pending. He's being held in the Dakota County jail in lieu of $100,000 bail and is expected to make an initial court appearance today.

There is no reason to believe that the allegations in the letters have any validity, said Apple Valley police Capt. Mike Marben, whose department is heading the investigation.

The Dakota County Sheriff's Office says Syverson sent letters "to 23 victims threatening to blackmail and extort money."

Fifteen employees from Rosemount, Eagan and Apple Valley high schools and Dakota Hills Middle School in Eagan received letters, said Tony Taschner, spokesman for the Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan School District.

One teacher each at Burnsville High School and Metcalf Junior High School received letters, said Ruth Dunn, that district's spokeswoman. One of those teachers is also a coach, she said.

Both district representatives said Syverson is not employed with them. He lives with his parents, said his mother, who declined to comment further.

An incident report Wednesday from Eagan police said that the letter taped to the Metcalf teacher's house said the writer worked with the recipient and was threatening to "spread rumors of sexual misconduct with students" unless the recipient placed "$1,000 in an envelope at Sky Hill Park [in Eagan] in two days."

Another letter, sent to a Burnsville English teacher, demanded $1,000 in $100 bills be placed in an envelope "inside a gallon-sized ziplock bag" and placed beneath the bench in nearby Cedar Isle Park. The writer suggested that the teacher use "Mapquest or something similar" to find the spot.

"I suggest you visit the area the day before to scope out the location," the letters read. "I am giving you good directions so not finding it is no excuse."

Another letter went to Jesse Madsen, 29, a math teacher and track and cross-country coach at Eagan High. Madsen said the typewritten, unsigned letter he received was taped to his front door in Eagan and found Wednesday by his wife.

Madsen said his letter also involved sexual allegations and instructed him to drop $1,000 at a particular location. He said he first thought he was picked out because he was a coach. But band instructors and teachers not involved in coaching also were recipients, he said. pwalsh@startribune.com • 612-673-4482 asimons@startribune.com • 612-673-4921

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