April 16, 2017, 9:06 AM CST / Updated April 16, 2017, 9:06 AM CST
By Jane Herman NBCNews

The Rochester, Minnesota police force has an incredible track record of solving crimes, but there is one case that has weighed heavily on the community for a decade.

“It happened to someone who should have been in the prime of their lives,” Capt. John Sherwin told Dateline NBC. “She never got the chance to start her career or have a family.”

April Jean Sorensen, 27, was easy-going, athletic, and a hard-working student at the Rochester Community and Technical College, studying to become a dental hygienist.

Thinking about her sister’s untimely death still brings Holly Beenken to tears. “She was just not a person you would think would be targeted,” she told Dateline.

On April 17, 2007, April’s TV technician arrived at her home at 12:30 p.m., for a scheduled visit. He saw smoke coming from inside the house and immediately called 911.

When police and investigators arrived at the scene, they determined that the fire was not an accident.

After the fire was extinguished, police found April’s body inside her bedroom. Autopsy reports confirmed she had been stabbed and strangled to death.

Police believe that the killer set the fire to burn away the evidence of the crime.

Capt. John Sherwin, a patrol sergeant at the time, said investigators have retraced April’s steps, interviewed thousands of people and collected DNA samples in their attempts to solve this mystery.

Despite their efforts, the case still remains open.

On the night before her murder, April had worked the early-morning shift at UPS Inc. in Rochester from 4:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. Then she attended class from 10:00 a.m. to 10:50 a.m., leaving a less than two-hour window from when April returned home, to when she was killed and her house was set on fire.

April was living with her husband, Joshua, who worked for IBM. Investigators questioned Joshua right away.

During this type of investigation, “everyone is on your radar,” said Capt. Sherwin.

While they initially looked at Joshua as a possible suspect, police quickly cleared him, as he had an airtight alibi. IBM had a very secure corporate campus and he was at work during the time of the murder.

The TV technician was also ruled out as a suspect, because it was confirmed that he had just arrived to the scene based on his work schedule for that day.

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(ABC 6 News) – The Rochester Police Department is now treating the death of a man in northwest Rochester as a homicide.

A preliminary autopsy investigation has led them to believe the victim, 41-year-old Robert Elridge Volgmann, was murdered.

The Rochester Police Department said no arrests have been made, at this time, and the investigation is active and ongoing.

NOTE:  Roberts death date is 16 April 2020

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(ABC 6 News) – Rochester Police released a follow-up on a suspicious death that’s being investigated as the autopsy is waiting to be completed.

Police said that where the death happened was a fourplex apartment building and is run like an adult group home with four different apartments and each apartment has two bedrooms.

Police say the landlord had stopped by the home and noticed a window was open in one of the bedrooms and he went to go check, he looked inside the window and saw the victim dead and called police.

The victim lived in that apartment complex with another roommate, an adult male, who was in the apartment when police arrived, police said.

Police say the man was dead for longer than 24 hours and no one has been arrested.

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(ABC 6 News) – The Rochester Police Department is investigating what they are calling a suspicious death on the 2300 block of 28 1/2 Ave. in NW Rochester.

Police said around 10:00 a.m. Thursday the property owner called 911 after reportedly finding the victim with obvious signs of trauma to his body.

Police said the man has been tentatively identified as 41 years old and was pronounced dead when law enforcement arrived. They also said at this time they do not know how long he has been dead or the cause of death, but that they’re investigating several possible avenues, including suicide.

Neighbors told ABC 6 News it’s not unusual to see police at the residence, which houses several people.

Police said it appears to be an isolated incident and don’t believe there is any threat to the public at this time.

This is a developing situation, ABC 6 News will bring you the latest information as it becomes available.

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Roberts obituary:

Robert E. Volgmann Jr, 41, of Rochester, MN (formerly of Milwaukee,WI) passed away tragically at his home. His family is shocked and deeply saddened by their loss.

Bobby was born on June 17, 1978 to Robert Volgmann Sr. & Shirley Galica in Milwaukee. He went to Pulaski High School. Bobby was a Jack of all trades, and could fix just about anything. He loved building bikes, working at carnivals and building his strength by working for moving companies. Bobby loved to travel and his dream was to move to Hawaii. He was such a smart, funny, strong, caring, out going, friendly, (can’t forget a mama’s boy!) & the best Donald Duck imitator ever, just an all around big teddy bear individual. Bobby was also very proud of his name.

Bobby dedicated his time towards helping others. Anyone who knew Bobby, knew that he was a special soul. He had an immense passion for life and was always a positive source in whatever group he was in. His family and friends will miss him more than words can say.

Bobby was preceded in death by his mother Shirley, his sister Kelly, nieces Amanda & Kara & his nephew Toby.

He is survived by his father Robert Volgmann Sr., sisters Corinna (James) & Annette (Danny), brothers Michael & Scott Volgmann, and numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

The family would like to give a very special Thank you to his cousin Suzanna Rodriquez & her son for cooking meals to help raise money.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be sent to the family in care of the Bruskiewitz Funeral Home @ 5355 W. Forest Home Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53220.

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Mankato man charged with threatening to shoot police officer
The Free Press
Jan 17, 2017

MANKATO — A man is facing multiple charges after he allegedly made threatening statements toward passersby on a downtown Mankato street corner, then threatened police officers.

Police were called to an intoxicated and threatening man in the area of Front and Cherry streets Saturday morning.

Robert Eldridge Volgmann Jr., 38, of Mankato, made threatening comments toward two responding police officers and then resisted arrest, according to the criminal complaint.

At jail, Volgmann attempted to kick an officer and threatened to kill an officer “with his .44,” the complaint alleges.

Volgmann was charged Tuesday with felony threats, gross misdemeanor obstructing the legal process and misdemeanor disorderly conduct.

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