Brainerd man who set off statewide Amber Alert faces murder, kidnapping and arson charges

A dozen felony charges were filed Monday against a Brainerd man accused of a violent crime spree Friday that set off a statewide Amber Alert after he allegedly killed a man, burned a house down and kidnapped at gunpoint a pregnant woman and her four children, who were safely recovered.

Prosecutors in Crow Wing County charged Chad Aanerud, 35, with two counts of second-degree murder — one with intent, one without intent — first-degree criminal sexual conduct, five counts of kidnapping, first-degree arson, two counts of second-degree assault and firearms theft. Aanerud is a seven-time convicted felon prohibited from possessing firearms and has a history of violence and drug use.

District Judge Charles Halverson ordered Aanerud to have no contact with Nikkole Dobson, 33, and the victims and set his unconditional bail at $3 million.

“This is my 30th year as county attorney, so I’ve seen bails and bonds that high before, but obviously it’s not something that happens every day,” said County Attorney Donald Ryan in a phone interview Monday.

“Cases like this are always a tragedy. I mean, there’s just no other way to say it,” he said while declining to comment further.

A 911 call came in around 1 a.m. Friday on a report that Aanerud shot and killed Lyle Maske, 62.

Maske, a father of four and grandfather, is remembered as a generous, gentle man. Despite his struggles with addiction, family said Maske was kind and loving. His son Brandon Hesse told the Minnesota Star Tribune that his dad was the type who, if he were hit by a truck, he would get up and ask the driver if they were OK.

“He always [messed] up, but he always took care of everybody,” said Hesse, of Detroit Lakes.

Hesse said given the chance to do it over again, his dad would’ve still stepped in to help the Dobsons.

“Even if he knew exactly the outcome, he would do it the same exact way,” he said.

Maske’s relatives have previously told the Minnesota Star Tribune that he “died as a hero” trying to help his neighbors on Loerch Road, east of Brainerd, after the Dobson children fled to his house.

Maske lived with his wife, Lois, whose granddaughter placed the 911 call that morning.

Upon arrival, officers found Maske’s body in the Dobson’s driveway. He wasn’t breathing and rifle casings were on the ground around him.

A home on the Dobson’s property was also engulfed in flames. It burned to the ground, deemed a total loss.

The granddaughter who called 911 said that before the shooting, Dobson’s children ran to Maske’s home and told them that Aanerud was “robbing grandpa and grandma’s house,” court records say. Dobson’s parents also lived on the property but were not home Friday.

The granddaughter drove Maske to the Dobsons, less than a half-mile away. She said they discussed bringing a firearm but Maske thought it would make the situation worse.

She dropped him off at the end of the driveway and then went back to Maske’s to be with the Dobson children. Ten minutes later, Aanerud showed up in a white van with Dobson in the front seat.

“Aanerud forced his way into the residence, firing one or more rounds while demanding ‘his kids,’ and threatening to kill [Maske’s wife],” court records state.

He forced Dobson’s children into the van at gunpoint and sped from the area.

An Amber Alert was issued around 6:30 a.m. The van was located near Little Falls within an hour by a Morrison County resident.

Upon arrest, officers said that Aanerud smelled strongly of gasoline or diesel. The children were in the vehicle unharmed, along with 13 stolen firearms. Dobson had injuries to her face, neck and upper chest area, consistent with having been physically assaulted, court records state.

She told investigators that sometime after 9 p.m. on Oct. 31, Aanerud began arguing with her on the front porch of the building where she lived next to her parents’ home that later burned down. He retrieved a .45 caliber handgun and threatened to shoot her children if she didn’t have sex with him. He then dumped buckets of gasoline or diesel onto Dobson’s parents’ home.

Dobson woke her children and told them to run to Maske’s. Aanerud confronted Maske in Dobson’s driveway, shooting him before forcing Dobson in the van.

In a statement to investigators, Aanerud said he shot Maske when he “stuck his nose” where it didn’t belong, court records state. He admitted to dousing the Dobsons’ home with fuel and setting it on fire. He also admitted to firing a warning shot at the Maskes’ property to force the children to come with him.

Annerud’s next court appearance is Nov. 12. A public defender has not yet been assigned to his case.