POPE COUNTY, Minn. — In May 1915, a visit to the farm of the three Mitmoen brothers near Ben Wade Township led to a shocking discovery. Andrew Knutson found the two oldest brothers, Sven and Johannes (John), dead in the house, while the youngest brother, Amund, was found dead in the barn. All three had been murdered, seemingly bludgeoned with a stone, and Amund possibly shot. Their bodies had gone undiscovered for several days.
The motive for the murders was believed to be robbery, as the brothers were described as being well-off and were known to have a substantial amount of money. Although some money was taken, a significant amount of currency and gold were overlooked. The murders shocked the community and prompted an investigation.
Two months later, with no clear suspects in sight, a substantial reward was offered for information leading to the arrest of the perpetrators. The reward, amounting to over $39,000 in today’s money, highlighted the seriousness of the case and the desperation for answers.
In October, two men, John Jacobson and George Nelson, were charged with the crimes and arrested. They were implicated by a livery owner who had seen them shortly before the crimes were believed to have occurred. Despite efforts to identify the culprits, the case had remained a mystery until their arrest.
But as the trial proceeded in December, an alibi was presented for both Jacobson and Nelson, placing them in North Dakota at the time of the murders. As a result, the jury acquitted the men, who were released on their own recognizance. The trial’s conclusion left the case unsolved, with no further charges brought against anyone in connection with the murders.
The Mitmoen farm murders of 1915 remain a haunting and unsolved mystery in Pope County, Minnesota. The case serves as a reminder of the challenges in solving historical crimes and the complexities of achieving justice for the victims.