An AMBER Alert has been issued in Crow Wing County for a pregnant woman and her four children who were abducted at gunpoint by her boyfriend, who had earlier killed a man at a nearby location.
The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) issued the alert at 6:35 a.m. regarding 33-year-old Nikkole Dobson and her four children, Brandon (14), Haley (11), Gracie (7), and Chloe (3), who were taken from a residence northeast of Brainerd at approximately 1:50 a.m.
Dobson’s boyfriend, Chad Aanerud, 35, is believed to be responsible. Aanerud is described as being 6’2″, 185 pounds, with brown hair and hazel eyes, and is reportedly driving a white 2017 Chrysler Pacifica minivan with Minnesota license plate AEC 351.
Dobson is described as 5’7″, 198 pounds, with green eyes and reddish-brown hair.
The BCA stated that Aanerud arrived at the residence on the 15000 block of Loerch Road, fired a rifle into the ceiling, and forced Dobson and her children to leave with him.
Authorities also report that Aanerud is suspected of fatally shooting a man at a nearby property and subsequently setting the victim’s home on fire.
The direction in which they are traveling remains unknown, and the public is advised to avoid approaching Aanerud and to call 911 immediately if he or the vehicle is spotted.