MANDAN, N.D. — Police following evidence from surveillance video arrested a 44-year-old man Thursday in the slayings of four people at a property management business, just days after the discovery of their bodies shook a North Dakota town.
Mandan Police Chief Jason Ziegler announced the arrest at a news conference Thursday night, saying police don't yet have a motive but noting that the suspect lived on property managed by the company, RJR Maintenance and Management.
Ziegler said the suspect lived in Washburn, a town about 35 miles (56 kilometers) north of Mandan, and was arrested without incident. He had not been formally charged but was being held on suspicion of four counts of felony murder.
"Evidence discovered on (the suspect) and in the vehicle provided probable cause to place (him) under arrest for the murders," Ziegler said. He did not elaborate on the evidence.
The dead were identified earlier this week as RJR co-owner Robert Fakler, 52, and employees Adam Fuehrer, 42; Lois Cobb, 45; and William Cobb, 50. The Cobbs were married.
Ziegler also revealed Thursday night that the four had been shot or stabbed.
Police had released little information about their investigation in the days following the discovery of the bodies after authorities responded to a medical call Monday. Homicides are unusual in Mandan, a town of about 22,000 just across the Missouri River from the state capital of Bismarck that hadn't had a slaying since 2016 — and had only three in the past six years.
"It's been a difficult week for everyone involved," Mayor Tim Helbling said.
