NAYZE MEDIA

The remains of 32-year old, Amanda Jo Vangrinsven were discovered buried in the yard of one of her coworkers last week. Vangrinsven was reported missing on August 5th according to 850 WTFL .

Witness reports stated, the day before she went missing, Vangrinsven was seen drinking at the Isanti VFW Bar & Grill where she worked. Coworkers of Amanda Jo’s on shift that night, told police that she had been drinking with another coworker. 37-year old Melvin Peterson. Coworkers say Vangrinsven was visibly drunk. At that point, coworkers say they decided to cut her off, and not serve her any more alcohol. That was when Peterson stepped in and offered to take her home.

Vangrinsven didn’t go home after she left Isani VFW, with Peterson. Witnesses say they saw Peterson and Vangrinsven drinking at a different bar. This one was called The Dugout Grill. Witnesses and employees told police that Vangrinsven was “noticeably intoxicated.” They also said her and Peterson were extremely affectionate towards each other.

“Amanda and Rick mutually showed a public display of affection as they kissed one another, sat close to one another, while Amanda rubbed Rick’s leg and the inside of his thigh, while Rick rubbed Amanda’s back under her shirt and put his pants down Amanda’s pants touching her buttocks with his hand.”

One of the many witnesses who saw the pair together at The Dugout Grill that night. Workers say they offered to take Amanda home. Once again, Peterson stepped in and said he would. Amanda never showed up for work the next day. Her coworkers contacted the police at that point.

Authorities began their search on August 7th. They became suspicious of Peterson after realizing that he kept telling them conflicting stories. A few days later, police obtained a search warrant for Peterson’s 20-acre residence. Authorities reported that Peterson told them to “check the pond.” Instead of taking Peterson’s advice, police had their eyes focused on several areas of land on Peterson’s property that looked like it had been recently disturbed. The warrant says “Lieutenant McCarty continued to unearth the broken sod and ground and discovered two white shoes.” The warrant then states “[authorities] asked that earth be excavated around the shoes to confirm a body existed.” Once the warrant was approved, authorities began digging, anf found that the white shoes were attached to feet, that were attached to legs, that wore jean shorts and clothing matching Amanda’s. As police continued excavating, they were able to visually confirm that the body found on Peterson’s property, was, in fact, Amanda’s. The medical examiner found a projectile, consistent with a bullet, lodged in Amanda’s skull.

Before police could take Peterson into custody, he checked himself into a Veterans Affairs psychiatric facility in St. Cloud, Minnesota. Peterson was arrested on Tuesday, on a probable cause murder hold, but has yet to be formally charged for the murder.