Dakota Spotlight is a true crime series investigating unsolved murders, cold cases, and missing persons in North Dakota and the Midwest. Hosted by investigative journalist James Wolner, each season takes a deep dive into one case, from rural crime and small town murders to decades-old disappearances. Through meticulous research, exclusive interviews, and on-the-ground reporting, Dakota Spotlight brings forgotten crimes back into the public eye and gives voice to victims and their families. Alongside full investigative seasons, the show also features shorter standalone episodes that explore individual mysteries in a single sitting. If you are drawn to investigative journalism, small town true crime, and real crime stories based on actual events, Dakota Spotlight offers gripping and respectful storytelling you will not forget.
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Meanwhile in Mankato (2): Inside the Murder Investigation
Season 12 · Episode 2
Thursday, November 13, 2025 • Duration 43:25
In the aftermath of Ray Dahms’s killing, Blue Earth County investigators launch a Minnesota murder investigation that soon points to a local teenager, Brian Lee Hendrickson. When they finally bring him in for questioning, Hendrickson shocks officers with a murder confession that seems to close the case almost as quickly as it began with the justice system.
Episode 2 of Meanwhile in Mankato revisits those first tense hours of the Mankato Gas Station Murder and the community’s mourning for Ray Dahms, whose death left Rapidan searching for answers. Through careful investigative journalism, Dakota Spotlight explores how a small-town murder rippled across Minnesota, shaping perceptions of truth and accountability.
A Dakota Spotlight true crime podcast where every answer reveals another question—and where justice proves far more elusive than anyone imagined.
Meanwhile in Mankato was written, researched, edited, and produced by James Wolner. Additional research assistance by Mari Zoerb Hansen.
Check out the full catalog and everything Dakota Spotlight: https://dakotaspotlight.com/
Get all episodes early, ad-free, and more. Subscribe to Spotlight PLUS: https://dakotaspotlight.com/spotlight-plus/
Sign up for the Dakota Spotlight newsletter: https://dakotaspotlight.com/newsletter/
Email: dakotaspotlight@gmail.com
Facebook: https://facebook.com/groups/dakotaspotlight
X/Twitter: @dakotaspotlight
Instagram: @dakotaspotlight
TikTok: @dakotaspotlight
Bluesky: @dakotaspotlight.bsky.social
YouTube: @dakotaspotlightpodcast4800
Proudly produced by Six Horse Media: info@sixhorsemedia.com
Advertise your podcast or brand in Dakota Spotlight episodes: info@sixhorsemedia.com
All content in this podcast, including audio, interviews, and soundscapes, is the property of Six Horse Media. Any unauthorized use, reproduction, or rebroadcast of this material without the express written consent of Six Horse Media is strictly prohibited. For permissions or inquiries, please contact info@sixhorsemedia.com.
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Meanwhile in Mankato (1): Lies, Silence & Murder in Minnesota
Season 12 · Episode 1
Thursday, November 6, 2025 • Duration 48:48
In 1965, seventeen-year-old Brian Hendrickson committed a small-town murder when he walked into a gas station outside Mankato, Minnesota, and shot clerk Ray Dahms twice at close range. Sentenced to forty years, he served just over five.The case would later be remembered as the Mankato Gas Station Murder.
In this opening episode of Dakota Spotlight’s twelfth season, host James Wolner takes us back to 1965 and the small town of Rapidan, Minnesota. We meet the classmates and friends of Ray Dahms, shot down at the age of 18 in this Minnesota murder case — people who have never forgotten him. The episode traces Ray’s final hours on September 25, 1965, and introduces us to seventeen-year-old Brian Lee Hendrickson, whose own path that night would lead to tragedy at Rothfork Truckstop in Blue Earth County, Minnesota. Dakota Spotlight is a true crime podcast dedicated to investigative journalism, revisiting cold cases and small-town murders across the Midwest.
Learn more about the Mankato Gas Station Murder at DakotaSpotlight.com.
Meanwhile in Mankato was written, researched, edited, and produced by James Wolner. Additional research assistance by Mari Zoerb Hansen.
Check out the full catalog and everything Dakota Spotlight: https://dakotaspotlight.com/
Get all episodes early, ad-free, and more. Subscribe to Spotlight PLUS: https://dakotaspotlight.com/spotlight-plus/
Sign up for the Dakota Spotlight newsletter: https://dakotaspotlight.com/newsletter/
Email: dakotaspotlight@gmail.com
Facebook: https://facebook.com/groups/dakotaspotlight
X/Twitter: @dakotaspotlight
Instagram: @dakotaspotlight
TikTok: @dakotaspotlight
Bluesky: @dakotaspotlight.bsky.social
YouTube: @dakotaspotlightpodcast4800
Proudly produced by Six Horse Media: info@sixhorsemedia.com
Advertise your podcast or brand in Dakota Spotlight episodes: info@sixhorsemedia.com
All content in this podcast, including audio, interviews, and soundscapes, is the property of Six Horse Media. Any unauthorized use, reproduction, or rebroadcast of this material without the express written consent of Six Horse Media is strictly prohibited. For permissions or inquiries, please contact info@sixhorsemedia.com.
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Barbara Cotton Cold Case Update: New Witness Insights on Williston's Unsolved Disappearance
Season 5 · Episode 22
Thursday, September 11, 2025 • Duration 46:35
In this gripping update on the Barbara Cotton cold case, we delve into new testimony surrounding one of North Dakota's most enduring unsolved disappearances. Barbara Louise Cotton vanished from Williston in 1981, and after decades of silence, a man who worked with Stacey Werder in Montana shares critical insights about seeing him with Barb in Williston. This episode, hosted by James Wolner and Lisa Jo of #FindBarbCotton, explores the troubling behaviors of Stacey Werder, his movements across Scobey and Miles City, and his tragic suicide weeks after Barb's disappearance. With renewed investigative journalism and fresh leads, we aim to uncover answers in a haunting North Dakota true crime mystery that has persisted for over forty years. Join us as we shine a light on unresolved mysteries in rural crime and the ongoing search for justice.
Connect with Lisa Jo and the #FindBarbCotton Movement:
Email: findbarbcotton@gmail.com
Website: https://findbarbcotton.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/877478459791085/
Instagram: @findbarbcotton
TikTok: @findbarbcotton
Bluesky: @findbarbcotton.bsky.social
Check out the full catalog and everything Dakota Spotlight: https://dakotaspotlight.com/
Get all episodes early, ad-free, and more. Subscribe to Spotlight PLUS: https://dakotaspotlight.com/spotlight-plus/
Sign up for the Dakota Spotlight newsletter: https://dakotaspotlight.com/newsletter/
Email: dakotaspotlight@gmail.com
Facebook: https://facebook.com/groups/dakotaspotlight
X/Twitter: @dakotaspotlight
Instagram: @dakotaspotlight
TikTok: @dakotaspotlight
Bluesky: @dakotaspotlight.bsky.social
YouTube: @dakotaspotlightpodcast4800
Proudly produced by Six Horse Media: info@sixhorsemedia.com
Advertise your podcast or brand in Dakota Spotlight episodes: info@sixhorsemedia.com
All content in this podcast, including audio, interviews, and soundscapes, is the property of Six Horse Media. Any unauthorized use, reproduction, or rebroadcast of this material without the express written consent of Six Horse Media is strictly prohibited. For permissions or inquiries, please contact info@sixhorsemedia.com.
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Summer 2023 - Loyal Lundstrom
Season 99 · Episode 21
Wednesday, June 28, 2023 • Duration 25:27
It's summer 2023. Finally!
Dakota Spotlight is in between seasons and in research mode.
Meanwhile here is a story by Trisha Taurinskas at The Vault.
Check out The Vault podcast
email - James at jwolner@forumcomm.comFacebook: facebook.com/groups/dakotaspotlight
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Unresolved, The Murder of Joel Lovelien (7): 15 Years Later
Season 8 · Episode 7
Wednesday, April 12, 2023 • Duration 43:58
Episode 7, 15 Years Later, reflects on the unresolved 2007 murder of Joel Lovelien outside the Broken Drum Bar in Grand Forks, North Dakota. Host James Wolner interviews Travis Stay’s defense attorney, Peter Wold, and speaks with Heather (Holter) Keena, who was on the party bus that night and later married Jon “The Clown.” Sgt. Suby of the Grand Forks Police Department also shares the current status of the case.
Do you have information about Joel Lovelien’s murder? Submit a tip through the tip411 app (anonymous tips allowed) or call the Grand Forks Police Department non-emergency line at (701) 787-8000. If new developments emerge, Dakota Spotlight will return with updates.
Intro and outro music by HandTurner (https://handturner.bandcamp.com) and Wowza in Kalamazoo (https://wowzainkalamazoo.bandcamp.com/).
Check out the full catalog and everything Dakota Spotlight: https://dakotaspotlight.com/
Get all episodes early, ad-free, and more. Subscribe to Spotlight PLUS: https://dakotaspotlight.com/spotlight-plus/
Sign up for the Dakota Spotlight newsletter: https://dakotaspotlight.com/newsletter/
Email: dakotaspotlight@gmail.com
Facebook: https://facebook.com/groups/dakotaspotlight
X/Twitter: @dakotaspotlight
Instagram: @dakotaspotlight
TikTok: @dakotaspotlight
Bluesky: @dakotaspotlight.bsky.social
YouTube: @dakotaspotlightpodcast4800
Proudly produced by Six Horse Media: info@sixhorsemedia.com
Advertise your podcast or brand in Dakota Spotlight episodes: info@sixhorsemedia.com
All content in this podcast, including audio, interviews, and soundscapes, is the property of Six Horse Media. Any unauthorized use, reproduction, or rebroadcast of this material without the express written consent of Six Horse Media is strictly prohibited. For permissions or inquiries, please contact info@sixhorsemedia.com.
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Unresolved, The Murder of Joel Lovelien (6): Travis on Trial
Season 8 · Episode 6
Wednesday, April 5, 2023 • Duration 42:40
Episode 6, Travis on Trial, takes a close look at the 2008 trial of Travis Stay, who was accused of murdering Joel Lovelien outside the Broken Drum Bar in Grand Forks, North Dakota. After 14 days of testimony, Stay was found not guilty. Host James Wolner speaks with Archie Ingersoll, the reporter who covered the trial, and Nancy Yon, the lead prosecutor, to explore how the case was presented in court and why the jury reached its decision. This episode unpacks the pivotal courtroom moments of an unresolved North Dakota homicide.
Intro and outro music by HandTurner (https://handturner.bandcamp.com) and Wowza in Kalamazoo (https://wowzainkalamazoo.bandcamp.com/).
Check out the full catalog and everything Dakota Spotlight: https://dakotaspotlight.com/
Get all episodes early, ad-free, and more. Subscribe to Spotlight PLUS: https://dakotaspotlight.com/spotlight-plus/
Sign up for the Dakota Spotlight newsletter: https://dakotaspotlight.com/newsletter/
Email: dakotaspotlight@gmail.com
Facebook: https://facebook.com/groups/dakotaspotlight
X/Twitter: @dakotaspotlight
Instagram: @dakotaspotlight
TikTok: @dakotaspotlight
Bluesky: @dakotaspotlight.bsky.social
YouTube: @dakotaspotlightpodcast4800
Proudly produced by Six Horse Media: info@sixhorsemedia.com
Advertise your podcast or brand in Dakota Spotlight episodes: info@sixhorsemedia.com
All content in this podcast, including audio, interviews, and soundscapes, is the property of Six Horse Media. Any unauthorized use, reproduction, or rebroadcast of this material without the express written consent of Six Horse Media is strictly prohibited. For permissions or inquiries, please contact info@sixhorsemedia.com.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Unresolved, The Murder of Joel Lovelien (5): The Evidence Against Travis Stay
Season 8 · Episode 5
Wednesday, March 29, 2023 • Duration 30:45
Episode 5, The Evidence Against Travis Stay, examines what investigators and prosecutors believed tied Travis Stay to the 2007 murder of Joel Lovelien outside the Broken Drum Bar in Grand Forks, North Dakota. Through interviews with detectives and the legal team, host James Wolner asks: What was the evidence against Stay, and why did a jury later acquit him? This episode unpacks the state’s case, the trial, and the unresolved questions that linger more than a decade later.
Intro and outro music by HandTurner (https://handturner.bandcamp.com) and Wowza in Kalamazoo (https://wowzainkalamazoo.bandcamp.com/).
Check out the full catalog and everything Dakota Spotlight: https://dakotaspotlight.com/
Get all episodes early, ad-free, and more. Subscribe to Spotlight PLUS: https://dakotaspotlight.com/spotlight-plus/
Sign up for the Dakota Spotlight newsletter: https://dakotaspotlight.com/newsletter/
Email: dakotaspotlight@gmail.com
Facebook: https://facebook.com/groups/dakotaspotlight
X/Twitter: @dakotaspotlight
Instagram: @dakotaspotlight
TikTok: @dakotaspotlight
Bluesky: @dakotaspotlight.bsky.social
YouTube: @dakotaspotlightpodcast4800
Proudly produced by Six Horse Media: info@sixhorsemedia.com
Advertise your podcast or brand in Dakota Spotlight episodes: info@sixhorsemedia.com
All content in this podcast, including audio, interviews, and soundscapes, is the property of Six Horse Media. Any unauthorized use, reproduction, or rebroadcast of this material without the express written consent of Six Horse Media is strictly prohibited. For permissions or inquiries, please contact info@sixhorsemedia.com.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Unresolved, The Murder of Joel Lovelien (4): A Portrait of Joel
Season 8 · Episode 4
Wednesday, March 22, 2023 • Duration 33:03
Episode 4, A Portrait of Joel, steps away from the investigation to focus on the man at the center of this story: Joel Lovelien. Family and friends recall his humor, generosity, and the way he brought smiles to everyone who knew him. Their stories paint a vivid picture of Joel’s life, ensuring he is remembered not just as a victim of a 2007 Grand Forks homicide, but as a beloved son, partner, and friend whose presence continues to inspire those left behind.
Intro and outro music by HandTurner (https://handturner.bandcamp.com) and Wowza in Kalamazoo (https://wowzainkalamazoo.bandcamp.com/).
Check out the full catalog and everything Dakota Spotlight: https://dakotaspotlight.com/
Get all episodes early, ad-free, and more. Subscribe to Spotlight PLUS: https://dakotaspotlight.com/spotlight-plus/
Sign up for the Dakota Spotlight newsletter: https://dakotaspotlight.com/newsletter/
Email: dakotaspotlight@gmail.com
Facebook: https://facebook.com/groups/dakotaspotlight
X/Twitter: @dakotaspotlight
Instagram: @dakotaspotlight
TikTok: @dakotaspotlight
Bluesky: @dakotaspotlight.bsky.social
YouTube: @dakotaspotlightpodcast4800
Proudly produced by Six Horse Media: info@sixhorsemedia.com
Advertise your podcast or brand in Dakota Spotlight episodes: info@sixhorsemedia.com
All content in this podcast, including audio, interviews, and soundscapes, is the property of Six Horse Media. Any unauthorized use, reproduction, or rebroadcast of this material without the express written consent of Six Horse Media is strictly prohibited. For permissions or inquiries, please contact info@sixhorsemedia.com.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Refugio Rodriguez part 3: Story by Trisha Taurinskas at The Vault
Season 99 · Episode 20
Monday, March 20, 2023 • Duration 26:54
Hey Everyone, I'm working hard on the next episode of Season 8, Unresolved, the murder of Joel Lovelien.
Meanwhile, here is part 3 of my colleauge Trisha Taurinska's investigation into the death of Refugio Rodriguez in Montevideo, Minnesota. https://www.inforum.com/news/the-vault/national-expert-weighs-in-on-refugio-rodriguezs-death-investigation-as-new-image-of-body-surfaces
Episode 4 of Dakota Spotlight Season 8 will be out on Wed. March 22, 2023
email me at jwolner@forumcomm.com
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Unresolved, The Murder of Joel Lovelien (3): Travis Stay, the Man in Yellow
Season 8 · Episode 3
Wednesday, March 15, 2023 • Duration 39:17
Episode 3, Travis Stay, the Man in Yellow, examines the movements and actions of Travis Stay and his friends during the weekend of Joel Lovelien’s murder in Grand Forks, North Dakota. Stay, who was seen in a lion costume that night, became the central suspect in the case and was later tried for Joel’s murder. In December 2008, a jury found him not guilty. This episode traces his timeline, explores the events leading up to the killing, and revisits the question of what really happened outside the Broken Drum Bar.
Intro and outro music by HandTurner (https://handturner.bandcamp.com) and Wowza in Kalamazoo (https://wowzainkalamazoo.bandcamp.com/).
Check out the full catalog and everything Dakota Spotlight: https://dakotaspotlight.com/
Get all episodes early, ad-free, and more. Subscribe to Spotlight PLUS: https://dakotaspotlight.com/spotlight-plus/
Sign up for the Dakota Spotlight newsletter: https://dakotaspotlight.com/newsletter/
Email: dakotaspotlight@gmail.com
Facebook: https://facebook.com/groups/dakotaspotlight
X/Twitter: @dakotaspotlight
Instagram: @dakotaspotlight
TikTok: @dakotaspotlight
Bluesky: @dakotaspotlight.bsky.social
YouTube: @dakotaspotlightpodcast4800
Proudly produced by Six Horse Media: info@sixhorsemedia.com
Advertise your podcast or brand in Dakota Spotlight episodes: info@sixhorsemedia.com
All content in this podcast, including audio, interviews, and soundscapes, is the property of Six Horse Media. Any unauthorized use, reproduction, or rebroadcast of this material without the express written consent of Six Horse Media is strictly prohibited. For permissions or inquiries, please contact info@sixhorsemedia.com.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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