Woman killed after responding to babysitting ad on Craig's List
A 19-year-old resident of Savage is being held in the murder of a woman discovered in a Burnsville park Friday night. The suspect's name is being withheld pending formal charges by the Scott County Attorney's Office, which are expected to be made as early as Monday, Oct. 28.
The man is suspected of being involved in the death of 24-year-old Katherine Ann Olson. Olson's body was found in the trunk of her car at Burnsville's Kraemer Nature Preserve around 10 p.m. Friday, Oct. 26.
A Minnesota State Patrol helicopter discovered Olson's abandoned car after being notified by the Savage Police Department that she was missing. Earlier that day, Olson's purse had been found in a trash can at Pacer Park in Savage. Police telephoned Olson's home and left a voice message regarding her purse. The woman's roommate returned the call later in the day, informing Savage Police that she had last seen
Olson Thursday morning. Upon further examination of the trash can where the purse was located, officers found a blood-soaked towel enclosed in a garbage bag.
The police investigation has revealed that Olson came to Savage for a babysitting job she had applied for through Craig's List. The 19-year-old suspected of being involved in the homicide was arrested at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, where he works, shortly after Olson's body was found.
"This is a very unusual homicide," said Capt. Dave Muelken. "I don't have a word to describe the situation; it's very tragic."
A cause of death has not been released; an autopsy is being conducted by the Minnesota Regional Medical Examiner's Office in Hastings.Muelken said Olson's parents, who live in Cottage Grove, described their daughter as extremely brightand very popular. She was at the top of her high school class, and had traveled the world - at one time being a juggler for a circus in Argentina.
She previously had been a nanny for more than a year - a position she had also found through Craig's List.
The last time the Savage Police Department investigated a homicide was in 2000 when a man killed his wife and then killed himself. Prior to that, there hasn't been a murder here for nearly 25 years.
"This is extremely upsetting," Capt. Muelken said. "Savage is generally a very safe area."
The case remains under investigation by the Savage Police Department. Savage Police Chief Rodney Seurer extends his appreciation to agencies assisting in the case, including the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, Scott County Sheriff's Department, Burnsville Police Department, Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport Police Department and the Minnesota State Patrol.
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