Life sentence for Brainerd man in murder and kidnapping case that sparked Amber Alert

A Brainerd man has been sentenced to life in prison for a 2024 crime spree of murder, arson and kidnapping of four children and their mother.

Chad Aanerud, 36, who pleaded guilty in December, was ordered Tuesday, Feb. 17, by a Crow Wing County district judge to serve his sentence at the St. Cloud prison, bringing a close to the case from Nov. 1, 2024.

Authorities said the mayhem of that day could have been worse if not for the statewide Amber Alert system, and relatives of Lyle Maske, 62, said Maske “died as a hero,” trying to stop Aanerud, a now eight-time convicted felon prohibited from possessing guns who shot Maske.

Prosecutors in Crow Wing County charged Aanerud with 21 felonies. He pleaded guilty to five of the charges: first-degree murder while committing first-degree arson, kidnapping, first-degree burglary in possession of a dangerous weapon and two counts of second-degree assault.

The other 16 counts were dismissed.

The crimes took place in rural Brainerd on a gravel road where Maske was a neighbor to Nikkole Dobson and her four children, ages 3-14. Annerud wanted to resume a relationship with Dobson, whom he assaulted, and set off the cascade of events.

Dobson’s children ran down Loerch Road to Maske’s house seeking help. Maske went to Dobson’s home, where Aanerud confronted him in the driveway and shot him.

A Morrison County resident spotted the minivan described in the Amber Alert near Little Falls and called 911. A sheriff’s deputy and state trooper arrested Aanerud within an hour after the alert was issued.

Maske’s cousin, Eileen Borg of Brainerd, was distraught at the crime scene, telling the Minnesota Star Tribune that Maske “was helping the woman and her kids out and protecting them.”

His son, Brandon Hesse, told the Star Tribune that given the chance to do it again, Maske would still have stepped in to help the Dobsons. “Even if he knew exactly the outcome, he would do it the same exact way,” he said.

Maske, a father of four and a grandfather, lived with his wife, Lois. Court records state that his granddaughter placed the 911 call that morning.

The granddaughter drove Maske to the Dobson home, less than a half-mile away. She said they discussed bringing a firearm but Maske thought it would make the situation worse.

Upon arrest, Aanerud had 13 stolen firearms in the minivan. The children were unharmed. Dobson suffered injuries to her face and body.