5 years later, death outside community center still a mystery

He can tell you what time his wife left home, what time she arrived at the hockey arena and what time the police called.

But Jim Nelson still can't say what happened to his wife in the few minutes it took Rebecca Nelson to park her car and walk back from a remote parking lot toward the Maple Grove Community Center.

It is a mystery that for five years has also haunted the Maple Grove Police Department, which has been unable to determine who killed Rebecca Nelson on the night of Feb. 20, 2003.

"I can walk through that night to this day by the clock and tell you what was going on," Jim Nelson says -- everything, except what happened to his wife.

Rebecca Nelson, 41, was found severely injured in the road at the intersection of Community Center Drive and Grove Drive, in front of the community center.

She was rushed to North Memorial Medical Center in Robbinsdale but died from internal injuries within minutes.

"The ... case is still unsolved," said Maple Grove police detective Travis Pobuda. The case remains open, but Pobuda said he has not had any new leads since he took it over more than a year ago. "It's been kind of a rough patch on this deal."

"We're trying to reignite the public, maybe get some information," Pobuda said. "It's a good way to bring some memories back."

Among those attending the vigil will be Jim Nelson and Rebecca Nelson's two children, Shari and Rob, who were 13 and 10, respectively, when their mother died.

"The kids are five years older and quite mature," said Jim Nelson, who was doing homework with Shari when police called him at 7:45 p.m. to tell him his wife was dead.

"They grew up very much that night. Shari has said that she quit being a kid that night. She stepped right in and filled in the mom role for Robby."

Mysterious as ever

What surprised investigators and the family is that the community center area that night was so busy that Nelson had to park in an overflow lot. Yet no one reported seeing anything.

Pobuda said police looked at several cars and talked to some persons of interest in the case.

Investigators even had a teenager confess to the hit-and- run. But, he said, the confession was quickly dismissed.

"I think it was just someone caught up in media frenzy that wanted their 15 minutes of fame," Pobuda said. "We've exhausted all leads we've had the past five years."

Pobuda said police look at the death as more likely an accident than an intentional act. He said investigators have not uncovered any indication that Rebecca Nelson was targeted.

"We talk about that day a lot," Jim Nelson said. "This is a tough time, a tough week. It brings it all back.

"You realize how fragile life is."