Names
Thursday, May 28, 2020, I will be speaking through Zoom (over the internet) for the Senior Center in Sartell from 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. on the writing of True Crime mystery and my forensic work. This presentation is focused on Last Call, which begins in Brainerd and ends in St. Cloud. Last Call identifies actual business and places in the Minnesota. The online presentation was arranged by Ann Doyscher-Domres, Program Coordinator, Sartell-St. Stephen Community Education. 
I want to thank Midwest Independent Publishers Association (MIPA) for their recognition of my books. MIPA is a vibrant professional nonprofit association that serves the upper-Midwest through education, networking, and peer recognition. MIPA is a regional affiliate of the Independent Book Publishers Association. Last Call is a finalist for Best Romance of 2020. The I-94 Murders won in 2019. My 1st book, Murder Book, was a finalist in 3 categories: Best Mystery, Best Young Adult Novel and Best Romance. With regard to my newest book, I would like to thank retired Police Officer/Investigator, Michael Lewandowski for his guidance. Mike now operates Priority Investigations and Protective Services. 
Website:
www.priorityinvestigationmn.org What’s in a name? I’m inviting readers to share more of your thoughts on book 5.
I have had a variety of responses for names for Book 5. Here are the examples:
UnforgiVen (with the capital V representing this is the 5th book in the Jon Frederick series)
Beget and Regret
Burn the Boats
Burned Bridges
Bridges Burned
Circle of Hurt
Con Genitals
Dead Beat Daddy
Dead Dad
Dead Ends
Dead to Me
Falling Down
Father Knows Arrest
Illegitimate Pursuit
Mad Mouse
Maker’s Mark
Not all Bridges Burn
On the Rocks
Origins Unknown
Pop’s Sickle
Road Closure
Sorry Sire
Unknown Bridges
Uncovering True Colors
The Unknowns
The Father I Never Met
Treacherous Tracks
Treacherous Trails
And a couple that made me laugh…
Spawn of the Dead
Tequila Mockingbird (From an individual who remembered from True Crime Tuesdays that offender loved Tequila)
I’m leaning toward Bridges Burned for the time being, but I’m still not certain. You may recognize the pictures of this in bridge (in Little Falls). If people have suggestions for another bridge to use, please let me know. I am also thinking of having Kloe Kapsner, pictured below, as the cover model. She will be the portraying the character of Harper Rowe, a young woman searching for the father she never met.
Bridges Burned
The story involves a young woman looking for her biological father. This is based on a true story and it’s an example how ancestry searches can lead to discovering information that doesn’t make you feel better.
This is the longest chapter in the book, and I’ve thought of cutting aspects of it, because it is intense and disturbing. However, it is the father’s actual criminal history. I received special permission from John Prine’s recording company to start each chapter with a John Prine quote. (You could also send me your favorite John Prine lines.) Please keep in mind, this is a raw version, and it will go through numerous rewrites. I am rewriting the story in the present day. Chapter 5
Your flag decal won't get you
Into Heaven any more
They're already overcrowded
From your dirty little wars
Now Jesus don't like killin'
No matter what the reasons for…
John Prine, Your flag decal won't get you
Into Heaven any more
Jon Frederick
MONDAY, APRIL 13, 2020
BIRCHMONDT DRIVE NORTHEAST, WEST SIDE OF LAKE BEMIDJI, BEMIDJI Yesterday again, was the highest increase in new coronavirus cases in Minnesota (+194). While it’s typically better to have information, I hated knowing Serena was being hammered with this news every time she turned on the TV.
I had the unenviable task of going over the information I received on Billy Blaze with his daughter Harper.
Harper nervously sat with a pen and a paper pad, long legs politely crossed, waiting for the verdict.
I began, “If I was in your shoes, I’d want factual information, rather than opinion, so I’ve prepared a timeline of Billy Blaze’s adult life. This is what I’ve unearthed so far on Billy Blaze from 1991 to the present.”
She picked up her mocha and took a sip. After setting it back down, she retrieved her notebook and pen. “I’m ready.”
I wanted to say, ‘No, you’re not,’ but instead offered, “You don’t have to take notes. I’ve printed you a copy of what I’m presenting. Just sit back and ask questions.”
Harper relaxed as best she could, in her cushioned wicker chair. “Thank you.”
I took a deep breath and started, “On March 11, 1991 Blaze was ticketed for Driving While Intoxicated. He joined the military and was stationed in Iraq after Desert Storm. Blaze ended up being shot in the hip by a sniper. This fueled open resentment toward Muslims, so the army elected to give him a medical discharge rather than allow him to return to duty. For the next six years, he apparently went to work and lived a relatively quiet civilian life.”
Harper smiled, “Okay, he served our country, and he drinks a little. And maybe he has some unresolved anger to work through.”
“On August 22, 1997, he pled guilty to domestic assault. The victim, Connie Berg, reported he struck her in the head multiple times. Blaze had scratches on his face.”
Harper naively asked, “Do you think it was it one of those he said-she said lovers quarrels, that just got out of hand?”
I softly revealed, “No. The incident was recorded. He violently raped her and brutally assaulted her. She scratched his face trying to fight him off. On August 29, 1997, he broke the front window at the bridal boutique Connie owned. Even though there was an eyewitness, Connie elected not to press charges.”
The next day, Blaze lept from a moving car on Highway 15, on a busy stretch where it crosses the Mississippi bridge in St. Cloud. He was given mouth to mouth resuscitation. Blaze seizured after he came to. He had been using heroin and cocaine intravenously.”
Her eyes had teared up. She suggested, “He must have been tormented with guilt.”
I continued, “On October 22, 1997, Blaze assaulted a Muslim man, after leaving the Red Carpet bar intoxicated. The man was driving by. Blaze asked, “How are you doing?” The man remarked, “Better than you,” in reference to Blaze’s intoxication. Blaze pulled the man out of his car through the open car window and beat him.”
Harper looked disappointed, but said, “He must be strong.”
“That he is. On January 1, 1998, Loni Lake returned home to find her front door had
been kicked open. Her collection of crystal glass was smashed on the floor. The only items taken were a key to her home, alcohol, and jar of change. Prior to coming home she had a verbal argument with Billy Blaze at the Corner Bar. The bartender had kicked Blaze out of the bar an hour before Loni left. Blaze denied breaking into her apartment and described Loni as ‘a drunken broad I picked up.’ Loni told the officer she is afraid of Blaze and preferred not to press charges.”
Harper didn’t respond so I went on, “On February 27, 1998, Blaze was charged with Disorderly Conduct. He was leaving a house party when he said to a couple entering,
“Now there’s a gross looking woman.” The woman responded, “You’re drunk.” Quoting the police complaint verbatim, Blaze threatened, “Do you know who you’re talking to?”
When her partner intervened. Blaze kicked him in the shin, and then ripped the woman’s
blouse open. Both reported they were very frightened of him.”
I glanced up, while Harper sat back in shock, “On April 1, 1998, police responded to a fight
that was reportedly instigated by Blaze at an apartment. When the police arrived, the fight was still
going but Blaze was gone. He didn’t receive any charges. Three weeks later Blaze received
his second DWI after it was reported he was swerving his Corvette through traffic on St. Germain
street in St. Cloud, yelling obscenities out his open window targeting minorities. The officers who
responded in the black and white, were black and white. Blaze tried to provoke the officers into
hitting him, but neither did.”
Harper said, “Please tell me your done with 1998.”
I continued, “On July 11, 1998 a couple complained to police Blaze was yelling from the window of his new Corvette at the woman working the drive-thru in Panera. When they stepped over to his car to ask him to stop, he hopped out, undid his pants, and exposed his genitals to them.” I decided not to use exact words, “He suggested they perform oral sex on him.”
Harper was so overwhelmed she now tried to make light of it, “Winnie the Pooh style--shirt no pants.”
On October 1, 1998, a man who met the description of Billy Blaze fired a shot into a trailer home with a handgun. The witness couldn’t confirm with certainty, so no charges were filed. On October 6, 1998 Ricky Walters reported Blaze had stolen his .308 caliber, pump action, Remington rifle. The next day, a bartender at the Old Brick House Pub, said Blaze walked in and pointed a .308 pump action Remington rifle at this head. The bartender wrestled it away from him. Blaze claimed he was bringing the rifle to the bar to give to a man he owed money. Blaze was charged with Aggravated Assault and theft, but surprisingly, all of the charges were dismissed.”
Harper scratched her head, “That doesn’t make any sense. Why would they dismiss, when his guilt was so obvious?”
“This is a situation I plan on revisiting. My guess is that Blaze gave up evidence on a major drug dealer. The DEA is given a lot of latitude with witnesses, when they’re going after a major player. When I worked for the BCA, I helped send a rapist to prison who had four previous criminal sexual conduct charges dismissed in exchange for his testimony on four previous drug cases.”
She huffed in frustration, “Didn’t it seem like they were making deals with the wrong guy?”
“It sure did. But he ran out of rope with me.”
Harper stuttered, “Did Blaze--dad, ever show any remorse?”
“Not really. Realizing she was struggling with calling Blaze dad, I stated, “Colton Rowe is your dad. Blaze is just a guy your mom was with for a short time.” Harper seemed to appreciate the opportunity to separate herself from him. “On January 29, 1999, Blaze was found passed out in a truck by the truck owner. Blaze broke in and drank most of the bottle of Windsor whiskey inside. Blaze became violent with police officers when they asked him to leave. He was charged with Disorderly Conduct and Trespassing. But all of the charges were dismissed by what the police report described as a ‘Big City Attorney,’ after Blaze agreed to enter CD treatment.” I noted, “I don’t see anything underhanded with this agreement. That kind of deal, for a minor offense is pretty typical.”
With naïve optimism, Harper thought out loud, “Alright. Finally, a chance to turn it around.”
I cleared my throat. “Okay, one month later, on February 26, 1999, Blaze and his friend Gunner Stone, stole a 30-30 Winchester, a Crossman 33 Air Rifle with scope, and a Chrome plated Colt .45 pistol, from ‘Fats’ Gangel and ‘Moe’ Brown. The pistol was unusual as it had a shiny chrome grip. Blaze and Stone’s vehicles were impounded and searched, but no weapons were found. After the vehicles were released investigators realized neither Blaze nor Stone had a current valid driver’s license. No charges were filed. However, within two weeks, on March 8, Blaze and Stone crashed a house party and Blaze, with a chrome plated Colt .45 in hand, made everyone hand over their money.”
“Did he get charges then?”
I shook my head, “No. There were lots of illegal drugs present and no one wanted their names in a criminal complaint. The incident was documented by an undercover DEA agent in the home and they weren’t ready to give up his cover. One week after that, on March 15, Blaze was charged with Aggravated DWI.”
Harper considered, “Do you think the DEA tipped off the police to make sure he was charged with something? Maybe even give them opportunity to search his car for the guns?”
I smiled, “It happens. On March 17, 1999, Blaze’s sister Deb Zion tells police Blaze has been calling her and threatening to kill her. No reason reported. No charges filed.”
“Zion? That’s an odd surname.”
“It’s one of the most common surnames in the world. It was her birth name. Half the people with this surname live in Africa.”
“Is his sister black?”
“I would guess so. Her race wasn’t in the file.”
Harper sat up, “I never even considered this, being I’m,” she waved a hand across her blonde hair and vanilla white skin, very white—is Billy Blaze black?”
“No. He’s white and so is the majority of his cohort.”
“How do you know their race if you don’t know his sister’s race?”
“They have criminal charges, so that information is available through the Department of Corrections.” I stopped and considered, “I believe it was sometime in March or April of 1999, when you were conceived correct?” Tony Shileto had run a background check on Harper for me. Her record was clean.
Harper quieried, “Did you come across mom’s name anywhere?”
“No, I didn’t. And that’s a good sign. It means she wasn’t involved in all the illegal stuff Blaze was involved in.”
Hopeful, she asked, “Do you think it’s possible Billy Blaze isn’t my father?”
“I believe Blaze is your father. She wanted you to stay away from him. If there was any possibility he wasn’t your father, he wouldn’t be on your birth certificate.” I took a breath and continued, “On May 3, 1999, Blaze showed up at Linda Michael’s home looking for her husband. Blaze threatened, ‘He better be home in an hour.’ Fearing for his life, Linda called the police. That night she received a call stating, ‘You called the cops. Now you’re a dead bitch.’ Even though she absolutely believes the calls were from Billy Blaze, they weren’t able to trace the number, so no charges were filed. On July 16, 1999, Jeff Anderson is found badly beaten in the parking lot of the La Playette bar in St. Joseph. Jeff reports he was assaulted by Billy Blaze, but he refuses to press charges. On August 5, 1999, Dominique Romano calls the police and states Blaze threatened him at the White Horse bar in St. Cloud. Once Dominique is safely escorted to his home, he refuses to press charges. He states it will only make things worse.”
“It’s all so crazy.”
“The next one’s a little lighter. On August 14, 1999, Kaplin’s Dentistry on Northway Drive in St. Cloud, reported Billy Blaze was in for a check up. When he left they realized two cans of cola were taken from the fridge, and a C.D. was stolen from the boombox. They decided it wasn’t worth filing charges.”
“Did they say what the c.d. was?”
“I’m a Barbie Girl, in a Barbie World—Aqua.”
Stunned, Harper asked, “You’re kidding right?”
“Yes-I’m kidding. They didn’t record the name of the c.d.” I took a deep breath and continued, “Okay, Deb Zion let her brother stay at her home for a couple days in August. On August 29, she called the police and reported she just realized checks were being forged from her account. That night, her son, Lenny received a call from Blaze telling Lenny to stay in the basement, as he’s going to shoot up the home in retaliation for Deb calling the police.”
“Nice brother. Very appreciative of her kindness.”
“On October 2, 1999, Blaze and Stone broke into the St. Cloud Animal Hospital and stole boxes of disposable syringes. Police responded to the silent alarm and Blaze was arrested leaving the building. He’s released pending a trial. Three days later Shari Kramer calls the police reporting Blaze entered her home and threatened her friend, ‘Chief’ with a rifle. Chief apparently owed him money. Blaze fired the rifle in the home, and then handed ‘Chief’ the shell stating, ‘the next one’s in you.’ Blaze then walked down the street to the Press bar, and fanned the gun across people sitting in the bar. A bouncer approached him, and he aimed the rifle at the bouncer’s head. The bouncer wrestled the rifle away. Blaze pled guilty to two counts of Terroristic threats, and was sentence to two years in the Minnesota Correctional Facility in Stillwater. Blaze was released from jail for Thanksgiving weekend to get his affairs in order, before going to prison. On Thanksgiving Eve, he rolled his Corvette numerous times after driving at high speeds down I-94 south of St. Cloud. He was found unconscious and didn’t recover consciousness until the next day. For the rest of 2000, until 2002, he was in prison. He lost his good time as a result of fights in prison.”
“Please tell me prison turned him around.” She added sarcastically, “It is a correctional facility, right?”
“Shortly after his release, on May 3, 2002, Blaze was ticketed for public urination. The reporting officer said, Blaze was standing shirtless in the Perkins parking lot at 1:30 a.m. with his jeans open and a woman named Cayenne Tiller was on her knees in front of him performing oral sex on him. Blaze argued he was just peeing and the woman had knelt down by him because she felt sick. The officer thought he’d give him a break, and just write him up for public urination. In return, Blaze wanted to fight the officer, but the officer just walked away.”
Harper was trying to find some sad humor in this. “So this time it’s the Smokey the Bear scenario—wearing jeans but no shirt.”
I smiled, “We seem to have a cartoon bear theme going.”
Harper grinned, “I’m sorry. It’s just so crazy.”
“Honestly, I wouldn’t know what to say myself.”
She added, “And cartoon bears have an apparel problem. Yogi bear and Fozzie bear both where a hat and a tie, and no other clothing. Bears seem to struggle with understanding the purpose of clothing.”
“I can’t argue with the evidence.”
Harper seemed to be recovering from being shell shocked with bad news. She asked, “Are there any positive events?”
“He had a flag decal on the windshield of his corvette. Keep in mind all of my information is from law enforcement files. With covid-19, I can’t simply go door to door. I’ve made some phone calls, but these people aren’t easy to find, and when I find them, they’re reluctant to talk. Blaze was apparently married to Mara Berrara in June or July of 2002.”
“Is it Maira or Marra?”
“It’s spelled M-A-R-A, but it’s just more fun to say Maira Barrera, so that’s what I’m going with until I hear otherwise. On August 2, 2002, the night manager at the Travel Host Motel in St. Cloud, called the police asking them to remove an unruly resident. Blaze had deep lacerations on his right wrist and forearm from smashing in the driver’s side window of Mara’s vehicle with his fist. The manager said Blaze was smearing blood on motel counter. Blaze told the clerk he left his wife’s car undriveable. Blaze was incarcerated for forty-five days on a probation violation.” I glanced up to make sure she was okay. “You have a half-brother. Blaze fathered a son with a Mexican woman when he was fifteen.”
Harper perked up. “Tell me about my bro.”
“On October 1, 2002, Concerns were expressed that Blaze was harboring his son, Phoenix Blaze. Phoenix had an outstanding warrant for car shopping.”
“Car shopping?”
“Breaking the windows of cars to steal items. Blaze claimed he hadn’t seen Phoenix. But on November 17, 2002, Phoenix was arrested after stealing a car only a block away from his dad’s home. Phoenix went on to become a major drug dealer for the Latin Kings. He’s currently serving an eight-year prison sentence in Oak Park Heights-- the only maximum security prison in Minnesota. It’s underground.”
Harper shook her head, “I won’t be visiting my bro. This is like a horror movie that you can’t shut off until you’ve seen the end.”
“Getting back to Billy Blaze, on November 6, 2002, Mara Berrara refuses to let her
husband, into her home because he’s intoxicated and he’s a mean drunk. Billy breaks all the porch
windows and threatens to “bury her” once he gets inside the house. After a physical altercation
with the police, Blaze spends the night in jail. Mara reports she is deathly afraid of Billy.”
“How long does this go on?”
“A while.”
Harper got up and retrieved a blanket from the corner of the three season porch. She
squirmed a little in her seat, until she was comfortable. “Keep going.”
“In 2003, the DEA takes a special interest in Blaze when Curtis Wicklin calls them from the Stearns county jail and reports Blaze is filling his wife Cheryl with drugs. On March 3, 2003
officers perform a welfare check and find Cheryl with slurred speech, bloodshot eyes and
needle marks all over her arms. She claims it’s because her doctor, who she refers to as “bobble
dick,” always has to try numerous times when he draws blood. Cheryl claims it’s all ‘a big set-up’
and her husband is just trying to make her look bad.”
“Bobble dick,” now that’s a nice nickname.”
“It turns out her doctor’s name is bobble dick, spelled, B-O-B-E-L-D-Y-K. They contact
Dr. Bobeldyk, who indicates he hasn’t drawn blood from Cheryl for over a year and he’s never
had difficulty drawing blood from her. On April 28, 2003, Blaze is arrested for trespassing when
he is intoxicated and refuses to leave the Ultimate Sports Bar and Grille in Waite Park. The drama
at home heats up when Curtis Wicklin is released early from jail. Curtis finds his wife in Blaze’s
bed, grabs her by the hair and drags her out of the home. She manages to dial ‘911.’ Cheryl claims
Curtis told her, “I’ll kill you bitch,” and her good friend, Billy Blaze witnessed the threat. Curtis
pled guilty to assault.”
“Unbelievable.”
“On July 30, 2003, Blaze reports his home was robbed. Even though he reports he was
face to face as he fought off the burglar, he can’t identify him. There was no forcible entry
noted. Police question if the home was actually robbed. Blaze filed a claim to his insurance.”
Later that day a report came in that Blaze had made threatening phone calls to Carol West.”
“Who is she?”
“No idea. On August 2, 2003, Mara Berrara files for divorce and she is granted an order
for Protection against Blaze. Mara reported that in the little over a year they’ve been married,
he’s punched her in the stomach, choked her, and dragged her around the house by her hair.
She reports being terrified, and knows he’s watching her when she’s in the community. There are
times she’s opened the curtains to find him standing right outside her window. She can’t sleep at
night and doesn’t even feel like eating.”
“I think I’m okay with never meeting my bio-dad, but I have to hear how this ends.”
On October 28, 2003, Chris Parker reported hearing glass breaking. Police arrive and
find Billy Blaze on the street with a baseball bat. Blaze said he was also awakened by glass
breaking and stepped out to check it out. All of the windows had been busted out of a home,
that was set to be demolished. Blaze said he saw teens jump in a car and take off. No charges
were filed. And then Blaze is off the grid for over a year. The rumor is, that he became involved
with a wealthy divorcee and is traveling the world.”
“I didn’t see that coming.”
I paused and asked, “Are you okay if I use the exact wording for the upcoming complaints. We have too much to cover to try to rephrase what he said in politically correct terms.“ I also felt that the exact wording, gave a clearer picture of this guy.
Harper said, “It would be my preference. I want to hear what you have, not what you think I should know.”
“By April of 2005 he’s back in St. Cloud. On April 14, 2005, Blaze is charged with violation of a DANCO order—Domestic Abuse No Contact Order. After they listen to Maya Berrara’s phone messages, he is also charged with Terroristic threats. Blaze is recorded saying, “You think you’re so fucking smart by not answering. I’m killing your motherfucking ass, bitch! And fuck you and everybody in this world. I’m killing you! You got that bitch? Fucking cunt. Answer that phone or I’m blowing up your house.” After a half hour passes, Blaze calls again and in his most pleasant voice, leaves a netw message, “Hi pretty. I’m horny and I want only you, babe. I want to taste you. You know what I’m talking about. How about answering the phone? Okay?”
Harper laughed at the ridiculousness of it. “Just ignore the last call. In the mood for
romance?”
“When police informed him that this time, they were able to trace the calls to his home,
Blaze stated, ‘Maybe it was my son.’ Now you get a break. Billy Blaze is sent to prison from 2005 to January of 2008. He executed his sentence, so he’s a free man when he’s released.”
Harper furrowed her eyebrows, “What does it mean to execute a sentence?”
“Offenders often do some time, and then are released early with the agreement they spend years on probation. People typically want to get out of prison as soon as possible, so they take the deal. But Blaze did the full sentence, with no early release, so he wouldn’t have to worry about probation. Once released, Blaze drops off the radar for a full year. The next we hear of Billy Blaze is on January 31, 2008, when he gets his fourth DWI in Ohio. He disappears again until September 28, 2008, when he pops up, once again, in St. Cloud. A man in a vehicle waves down a police officer saying he just picked up a man with broken arm who smashed up a Corvette. The ‘vette had struck a bridge, left the road and rolled. The police officer recognizes the injured man is Blaze. Billy refuses to go to the hospital, saying he doesn’t have insurance and can’t afford the bill. The officer points out that Blaze was too intoxicated to be driving. Blaze tells him, that the car was driven by a friend, and that since the accident he can’t remember the guys name or where he lives. Co-owners of Corvette were Billy Blaze and Margo Miller. Blaze was charged with driving without insurance. Then he’s gone again for over three years. The rumor is he’s running drugs in Florida. A year and a half later, on May 22, 2011, Blaze is arrested for a hit and run in St Cloud. He followed a woman’s car into the Hobby Lobby parking lot and bumped her car from behind in an apparent effort to get her to talk to him. She said when she stepped out, and he saw she was eight months pregnant, he swore at her and drove off. She was furious.”
Harper was lost in thought. “What do you think Blaze is doing that he’s keeps dropping below the radar?”
“Honestly, I don’t know. It’s hard to believe it’s something legal. On November 30, 2011, Randy Snyder calls the police and tells him Blaze is standing in his yard looking in his window. Snyder feared Blaze was going to kill him, as Blaze had threatened to kill him years earlier. Randy looks down and sees an envelope on the counter marked ‘Connie.’ The envelope states, ‘Billy Blaze is coming to kill you.’ Randy asks the officers if Blaze is going to kill Connie Bloom. Connie was at his home yesterday, and Blaze has told her he’d shut her big mouth in the past. The officers state they believe he was referring to Connie Berg.”
“How many Connie’s did he threaten to kill?”
“At least two. And then something changes. Up to this point, he’s consistently getting out of charges. Now the police seem to be paying closer attention to him. On July 20, 2012, Blaze apparently had a woman bent over the trunk of a car, with her skirt pulled up, in the Grand Central parking ramp in northeast St. Cloud and was taking her from behind. When a police officer told them to go home, Blaze threatened the officer. Blaze is charged with Disorderly Conduct. Two weeks later, Blaze received a ticket on August 3, 2012 for Obstructing the legal process after he interfered with the officer’s attempt to give a woman a ticket. She ended up being released without charges, so her name wasn’t in the file. On July 6, 2013, Blaze gets his fifth DWI. Woops—missed one. On February 24, 2013 Blaze is picked up for suspicious activity.”
“What is suspicious activity?”
“Typically, you see this in the record when they suspect someone is selling drugs, but somehow he ditched the product, so they didn’t up have enough to charge him. The following day, Blaze is picked for a threats complaint. My guess is Blaze had an idea on who ratted him out and found him. Two days after that, on February 26, Blaze is charged with Domestic Assault and Felon in possession of a weapon. He threatened a woman with a handgun. When the police spotted him walking down the street, he had a large bolt cutter up his sleeve. He didn’t have a weapon on his body, but they were able to photograph the imprint of handgun on his waist, where he is known to carry a gun. A .45 caliber handgun was found 3 feet away. When they searched him they also find blank checks belonging to Clara Lebowitz. Clara reports she’s never met Blaze and didn’t know how he got her checks.”
“It sounds like thing are really starting to amp up.”
“On May 23, 2013, Blaze was charged with Terroristic threats against Karsten Boon.
Blaze was taken in for a couple days by Craig and Irene Foley. Blaze decided to take a nap on
Craig’s recliner in their living room, bare chested and pants open—because he ate too much.
Karsten thought Blaze was being rude, so he set a cold beer on his chest. Blaze hopped to his feet
and put a loaded gun to Karsten’s head, threatening to kill him. When interviewed, Blaze denied
having the gun. He tells police, ‘Karsten’s on drugs. That punk mother fucker. Why are
you pullin this on me? I could give a fuck less about a fuckin drug addict mother fucker. I hate
drug dealers and I want to nail’em all.’”
“But isn’t Blaze also a dealer?”
“Probably, but he feels pretending he hates them is better cover. The most
interesting part of this story is Craig and Irene had taken Blaze in, when they found him in the alley behind the Press bar badly beaten. His eyes were black and blue and he had marks on his face
that were clearly made by punches from someone who was wearing a ring with skull on it. Blaze
claimed he fell. He had a pocket full of pain meds, but claimed they were all prescription. Craig
told police he took Blaze in because he wanted to help out a former vet. Irene wasn’t happy
about it. She stated if anyone did something Blaze didn’t like, he’d pat the gun on his waistband
to intimidate them. She described Blaze as ‘pure evil.’ During the police interview with
Irene, she reveals, that Blaze violently raped her friend, Cheryl Wicklin just a few months ago.
Irene hadn’t told her husband as Cheryl swore her to secrecy. Craig’s statement revealed Blaze
had told him he was a Desert Storm vet who was shot in the stomach, the head and in the leg.
Blaze told Craig his dad was mafia and was murdered.”
Harper interjected, “Is any of that true?”
“I have no idea. I need you to sign some releases so I can review some records.”
“It’s the first time I’ve heard him lose a fight.”
“He’s not the kind of guy who calls the police if he was beaten.”
“You said Cheryl Wicklin’s name earlier.”
“Her husband called the police and told them Blaze was shooting Cheryl up with drugs a
decade ago. Blaze was her witness when she reported her husband had assaulted her after his release from jail. Cheryl eventually got clean, but Blaze managed to find her and felt she owed him.”
Harper sighed, “If you do him a favor, he cashes it in heavy, doesn’t he?”
I nodded in agreement. “The charges he compiled in 2013 send Blaze back to prison from 2013 through most of 2015. I do think you’re on the right track when you mentioned he lost his first fight. Something changed. Now he doesn’t have any money. On December 12, 2015, he’s arrested for check forgery. On January 11, 2016, he’s arrested for check forgery again. On February 2, Margo Miller reports her Corvette was stolen. When Blaze is pulled over in it, she tells police it was just a misunderstanding. On February 5, 2016, it’s reported Blaze stole cash from a residence. On May 16, 2016, Blaze is picked up for busting the heads on garden gnomes with a golf club in the middle of the night, but the victim declines to press charges. On October 3, 2016, Michelle Evens reports suspicious activity in Blaze’s basement. Blaze threatens Michelle by calling and saying, “Goodbye sunshine, hello darkness.” Michelle’s advised to get an OFP against Blaze.”
Harper sarcastically adds, “Now dear old dad’s finding his rhythm again.”
“On October 12, 2016, the police are called as Blaze is being obnoxious in Taco Johns and he won’t leave. This is right across from the police station by the way.”
Harper laughs. It’s all she can do at this point.
“On October 18, 2016, Nellie Ellison calls the police. Blaze has told her that her daughter better leave town or he will come over and teach her a lesson. Nellie’s advised to get a restraining order against Blaze.”
“Do you have the daughter’s name?”
“No. It wasn’t in the report. On November 24, 2016, Blaze is charged with Assault in the 2nd Degree after he beats a cabdriver with a crutch. The cab had picked up Blaze at the MC’s Dugout Bar. Blaze lit up a cigarette in the cab, and the driver asked him to put it out. Blaze got angry. When the ride ended, Blaze through his money on the floor of the cab. When the driver bent down to collect it, Blaze beat him in the face with his crutch.”
“Why was he on crutches?”
“It didn’t say. Fortunately, a guy named ‘Big Mike’ Riley witnessed this and intervened. He yelled, ‘Fucking Blaze, just settle down!’ When Blaze attempted to strike the driver again, ‘Big Mike’ hit Blaze so hard he dropped to the tar. Blaze then wanted to fight ‘Big Mike,’ but Mike just laughed and told the cabdriver to call the police. ‘Big Mike’ told the police, ‘Blaze is always bad when he drinks tequila.”
Harper comments, “I don’t think tequila completely explains his behavior.”
“On New Year Eve of 2016, Blais is intoxicated and swearing at the VFW in St. Cloud. When the bartender refuses to serve him anymore alcohol, Blais threatens VFW bartender Jolyn Anderson, ‘I know where you live. I’ll hunt you down and will fucking kill you.’ Three weeks later, Blaze is considered a suspect in a financial card fraud case, but there isn’t enough evidence to charge him. On February 24, 2017, an undercover agent reports he overheard Blaze planning a robbery. The pharmacy is warned and they amp up security. On March 17, 2017, Randy Vogel is found in Cloverleaf trailer park, shirt soaked in blood, bleeding from his face and the back of head. Vogel reports Blaze punched him and stabbed him with screwdriver. Blaze went to the home with a biker named, Darko Dice. The door was locked so Blaze used a screwdriver to force entry. Blaze grabbed Vogel off couch, punched him and stabbed him. Vogel states that Blaze accused him of leaking out information about a robbery. He swears he didn’t, and he’s telling the truth. Vogel doesn’t want to press charges, stating Blaze has beat him up before, and he told me if I ever press charges against him, he’ll kill me and my family. The state feels there’s enough evidence to proceed with charges of Assault in the 2nd Degree against Blaze, even without Vogel’s cooperation,. Randy Vogel disappears before the trial and hasn’t been heard from since. His fiancé, Daisy Ronin, files a missing person’s report, and tells police Randy wouldn’t have willingly disappeared without her.” I pause to let this sink in, before I share, “Now this is the time you’re turning 18. Blaze fills out papers which give you power of attorney over his affairs, should he become incarcerated. Your mom makes you promise you’ll never seek him out.”
Harper shudders and under her breath softly says, “Thank you mom.”
On April 3, 2017, Terri Connor is parked at the Kwik trip in St. Cloud. She’s about to
back away, when a car pulls up behind hers driven by Darko Dice. Blaze shouts out the
passenger window, ‘Hey hot stuff,’ followed by additional remarks about her body.” Terri
asked him to knock it off and let her leave. The car bumps her vehicle. Carrie Nelson observes
and asks, “Did they just hit your car?” Blaze steps out of vehicle, and shouts at Carrie, “Fat
bitch, get your fat ass back in your car.” Blaze and Dice continue to yell obscenities at Carrie,
while keeping Terri blocked in. Both women, thought they were going to be assaulted. Eventually,
Darko backs the car away and Terri takes off. Fearing for Carrie’s safety, Terri calls the police.
When the police find Darko and Blaze cruising Division, Darko is charged with DWI. Blaze was
initially charged with Disorderly Conduct, but both women refuse to follow through with charges.”
“I thought for sure you were going to say he pulled his pants down again.” Harper pulls
the blanket tight around herself. “Whatever Blaze was struggling with, he has apparently
recovered from and is scarier now than ever.”
On June 3, 2017, Alissa Larson, stated she saw a shirtless man, with a large tattoo of the
Grim Reaper carrying the scythe, on his back, bust into her neighbor’s apartment. Alissa
watched through her peephole, directly across the hall. She gives an exact description of Billy
Blaze, down to the tattoos. But once she talks to her neighbors about it, she is warned of Blaze
and she refuses to participate in a photo line-up, out of fear of retaliation. Now here’s an
interesting twist. In July, Blaze is seen with a rooted platinum haired bombshell named
Vera Lake.”
“It sounds like a name out of a marvel comics magazine.”
“That isn’t the weird part. A DEA informant, I’ll refer to as “Joey,” goes to a crackhouse in Minneapolis with Blaze and Vera. They haven’t spotted Blaze in crack houses prior to this time. Vera is in her forties, but is a college student at St. Cloud State, so I don’t know if this was a field trip for Vera or a new venture for Blaze. Blaze tells Joey and Vera to walk around for a bit while he disappears, and then they leave. Joey admits that on a night Blaze was out of town, he slept with Vera. She told him that she is not officially ‘with’ Blaze. She wants to party with Blaze for a couple weeks, and then is leaving to LA to be with her daughter, Saffron. Her exact words were, ‘I thought I’d party with him for a bit, stay at his house awhile and then goodbye, good luck, I’ll see you later.’ Joey is pulled from the undercover operation, as his colleagues feel Blaze is in love with Vera and he’s going kill Joey when he finds out about this.”
“So was Joey the informant all along?”
“Yes. During Joey’s exit interview he reveals there’s another woman, Gwyneth Porter, who fell hard for Blaze at this time. Gwyneth’s a successful business woman in St. Cloud from a respected family and she doesn’t want anyone to know she’s involved with Blaze. Gwyneth lives in a nice house over on Cooper avenue south in St. Cloud. Gwyneth shared with Joey that she’s stayed away from Blaze after driving by and seeing Vera’s blue Ford Tauras at Blaze’s house night after night. Joey had asked Blaze about Gwyneth, but Blaze pretended like he didn’t hear him. There’s also a woman with a small child that stops by Blaze’s home occasionally, but Joey never caught her name. She never stays long. And then there’s drama with Cayenne Tiller.”
“So where did I hear her name earlier?”
“She’s the one with Blaze when he got the public urination charge. Cayenne is in front of Blaze’s home ranting and raving in a drug induced rage a few times during the summer. On August 17, 2017, when the police pick her up for disturbing the peace, she claims Blaze hit her. But she’s so nonsensical, they didn’t do anything with it. On August 18, the house next to where Blaze is staying, burns down. When police are investigating the fire, the neighbors share there’s lots of ‘foot traffic,’ at all hours of the night, at the Blaze home.”
Harper curiously asked, “Is this story coming to an end? I think I’ve heard enough.”
I smiled, “I’m done.”
“What do you mean you’re done?”
“A week later, there isn’t hide nor hair of Blaze to be found.”
“If the DEA was thinking of prosecuting him, they must have some information on
him.”
“Here’s the last report. On August 22, 2017, Blaze is seen out with Vera Lake at Legends
Bar in St. Cloud for jazz night. A neighbor hears an argument involving Blaze and a man and a
woman at 2:00 a.m.. It’s not unusual, so she goes back to sleep. The Corvette’s sitting there the
next morning, but no one else is home. Gunner Stone returns the next afternoon with a badly
bruised face. Billy Blaze is never seen or heard from again. Eventually Margo comes and gets the
Corvette.”
Harper ponders for a minute. “What do you think happened?”
“No idea. Do you want me to keep looking for him?”
Harper glances out the window as she answers. “I don’t think so. I stopped caring
about him ten minutes ago. But the ending bothers me. Give me the night to think about it. I
just wonder how mom ever ended up with that idiot.”
“Kari was young, and I’ve heard Blaze could be charming.”
Harper was not satisfied with the answer, but she tried to appease me by offering,
“Yeah, maybe. Mom used to say, ‘There’s some guys you can’t save.’ Maybe Blaze taught her
that lesson.”
“I’m willing to keep looking, but it’s going to take time with the coronavirus
restrictions.” I wanted to upfront with her, “There will be days where my best efforts will produce
nothing, and if I’m working I’ll still expect to be paid…” I am looking for a place to shoot the back cover for this book. A burned building or a place where there’s ashes. Let me know your thoughts. Thank you for your feedback!
Thanks for listening,
Frank Think in terms of Bridges Burned…
I want to thank Midwest Independent Publishers Association (MIPA) for their recognition of my books. MIPA is a vibrant professional nonprofit association that serves the upper-Midwest through education, networking, and peer recognition. MIPA is a regional affiliate of the Independent Book Publishers Association. Last Call is a finalist for Best Romance of 2020. The I-94 Murders won in 2019. My 1st book, Murder Book, was a finalist in 3 categories: Best Mystery, Best Young Adult Novel and Best Romance. With regard to my newest book, I would like to thank retired Police Officer/Investigator, Michael Lewandowski for his guidance. Mike now operates Priority Investigations and Protective Services. Website:
www.priorityinvestigationmn.org What’s in a name? I’m inviting readers to share more of your thoughts on book 5.
I have had a variety of responses for names for Book 5. Here are the examples:
UnforgiVen (with the capital V representing this is the 5th book in the Jon Frederick series)
Beget and Regret
Burn the Boats
Burned Bridges
Bridges Burned
Circle of Hurt
Con Genitals
Dead Beat Daddy
Dead Dad
Dead Ends
Dead to Me
Falling Down
Father Knows Arrest
Illegitimate Pursuit
Mad Mouse
Maker’s Mark
Not all Bridges Burn
On the Rocks
Origins Unknown
Pop’s Sickle
Road Closure
Sorry Sire
Unknown Bridges
Uncovering True Colors
The Unknowns
The Father I Never Met
Treacherous Tracks
Treacherous Trails
And a couple that made me laugh…
Spawn of the Dead
Tequila Mockingbird (From an individual who remembered from True Crime Tuesdays that offender loved Tequila)
I’m leaning toward Bridges Burned for the time being, but I’m still not certain. You may recognize the pictures of this in bridge (in Little Falls). If people have suggestions for another bridge to use, please let me know. I am also thinking of having Kloe Kapsner, pictured below, as the cover model. She will be the portraying the character of Harper Rowe, a young woman searching for the father she never met.
Bridges BurnedThe story involves a young woman looking for her biological father. This is based on a true story and it’s an example how ancestry searches can lead to discovering information that doesn’t make you feel better.
This is the longest chapter in the book, and I’ve thought of cutting aspects of it, because it is intense and disturbing. However, it is the father’s actual criminal history. I received special permission from John Prine’s recording company to start each chapter with a John Prine quote. (You could also send me your favorite John Prine lines.) Please keep in mind, this is a raw version, and it will go through numerous rewrites. I am rewriting the story in the present day. Chapter 5
Your flag decal won't get you
Into Heaven any more
They're already overcrowded
From your dirty little wars
Now Jesus don't like killin'
No matter what the reasons for…
John Prine, Your flag decal won't get you
Into Heaven any more
Jon Frederick
MONDAY, APRIL 13, 2020
BIRCHMONDT DRIVE NORTHEAST, WEST SIDE OF LAKE BEMIDJI, BEMIDJI Yesterday again, was the highest increase in new coronavirus cases in Minnesota (+194). While it’s typically better to have information, I hated knowing Serena was being hammered with this news every time she turned on the TV.
I had the unenviable task of going over the information I received on Billy Blaze with his daughter Harper.
Harper nervously sat with a pen and a paper pad, long legs politely crossed, waiting for the verdict.
I began, “If I was in your shoes, I’d want factual information, rather than opinion, so I’ve prepared a timeline of Billy Blaze’s adult life. This is what I’ve unearthed so far on Billy Blaze from 1991 to the present.”
She picked up her mocha and took a sip. After setting it back down, she retrieved her notebook and pen. “I’m ready.”
I wanted to say, ‘No, you’re not,’ but instead offered, “You don’t have to take notes. I’ve printed you a copy of what I’m presenting. Just sit back and ask questions.”
Harper relaxed as best she could, in her cushioned wicker chair. “Thank you.”
I took a deep breath and started, “On March 11, 1991 Blaze was ticketed for Driving While Intoxicated. He joined the military and was stationed in Iraq after Desert Storm. Blaze ended up being shot in the hip by a sniper. This fueled open resentment toward Muslims, so the army elected to give him a medical discharge rather than allow him to return to duty. For the next six years, he apparently went to work and lived a relatively quiet civilian life.”
Harper smiled, “Okay, he served our country, and he drinks a little. And maybe he has some unresolved anger to work through.”
“On August 22, 1997, he pled guilty to domestic assault. The victim, Connie Berg, reported he struck her in the head multiple times. Blaze had scratches on his face.”
Harper naively asked, “Do you think it was it one of those he said-she said lovers quarrels, that just got out of hand?”
I softly revealed, “No. The incident was recorded. He violently raped her and brutally assaulted her. She scratched his face trying to fight him off. On August 29, 1997, he broke the front window at the bridal boutique Connie owned. Even though there was an eyewitness, Connie elected not to press charges.”
The next day, Blaze lept from a moving car on Highway 15, on a busy stretch where it crosses the Mississippi bridge in St. Cloud. He was given mouth to mouth resuscitation. Blaze seizured after he came to. He had been using heroin and cocaine intravenously.”
Her eyes had teared up. She suggested, “He must have been tormented with guilt.”
I continued, “On October 22, 1997, Blaze assaulted a Muslim man, after leaving the Red Carpet bar intoxicated. The man was driving by. Blaze asked, “How are you doing?” The man remarked, “Better than you,” in reference to Blaze’s intoxication. Blaze pulled the man out of his car through the open car window and beat him.”
Harper looked disappointed, but said, “He must be strong.”
“That he is. On January 1, 1998, Loni Lake returned home to find her front door had
been kicked open. Her collection of crystal glass was smashed on the floor. The only items taken were a key to her home, alcohol, and jar of change. Prior to coming home she had a verbal argument with Billy Blaze at the Corner Bar. The bartender had kicked Blaze out of the bar an hour before Loni left. Blaze denied breaking into her apartment and described Loni as ‘a drunken broad I picked up.’ Loni told the officer she is afraid of Blaze and preferred not to press charges.”
Harper didn’t respond so I went on, “On February 27, 1998, Blaze was charged with Disorderly Conduct. He was leaving a house party when he said to a couple entering,
“Now there’s a gross looking woman.” The woman responded, “You’re drunk.” Quoting the police complaint verbatim, Blaze threatened, “Do you know who you’re talking to?”
When her partner intervened. Blaze kicked him in the shin, and then ripped the woman’s
blouse open. Both reported they were very frightened of him.”
I glanced up, while Harper sat back in shock, “On April 1, 1998, police responded to a fight
that was reportedly instigated by Blaze at an apartment. When the police arrived, the fight was still
going but Blaze was gone. He didn’t receive any charges. Three weeks later Blaze received
his second DWI after it was reported he was swerving his Corvette through traffic on St. Germain
street in St. Cloud, yelling obscenities out his open window targeting minorities. The officers who
responded in the black and white, were black and white. Blaze tried to provoke the officers into
hitting him, but neither did.”
Harper said, “Please tell me your done with 1998.”
I continued, “On July 11, 1998 a couple complained to police Blaze was yelling from the window of his new Corvette at the woman working the drive-thru in Panera. When they stepped over to his car to ask him to stop, he hopped out, undid his pants, and exposed his genitals to them.” I decided not to use exact words, “He suggested they perform oral sex on him.”
Harper was so overwhelmed she now tried to make light of it, “Winnie the Pooh style--shirt no pants.”
On October 1, 1998, a man who met the description of Billy Blaze fired a shot into a trailer home with a handgun. The witness couldn’t confirm with certainty, so no charges were filed. On October 6, 1998 Ricky Walters reported Blaze had stolen his .308 caliber, pump action, Remington rifle. The next day, a bartender at the Old Brick House Pub, said Blaze walked in and pointed a .308 pump action Remington rifle at this head. The bartender wrestled it away from him. Blaze claimed he was bringing the rifle to the bar to give to a man he owed money. Blaze was charged with Aggravated Assault and theft, but surprisingly, all of the charges were dismissed.”
Harper scratched her head, “That doesn’t make any sense. Why would they dismiss, when his guilt was so obvious?”
“This is a situation I plan on revisiting. My guess is that Blaze gave up evidence on a major drug dealer. The DEA is given a lot of latitude with witnesses, when they’re going after a major player. When I worked for the BCA, I helped send a rapist to prison who had four previous criminal sexual conduct charges dismissed in exchange for his testimony on four previous drug cases.”
She huffed in frustration, “Didn’t it seem like they were making deals with the wrong guy?”
“It sure did. But he ran out of rope with me.”
Harper stuttered, “Did Blaze--dad, ever show any remorse?”
“Not really. Realizing she was struggling with calling Blaze dad, I stated, “Colton Rowe is your dad. Blaze is just a guy your mom was with for a short time.” Harper seemed to appreciate the opportunity to separate herself from him. “On January 29, 1999, Blaze was found passed out in a truck by the truck owner. Blaze broke in and drank most of the bottle of Windsor whiskey inside. Blaze became violent with police officers when they asked him to leave. He was charged with Disorderly Conduct and Trespassing. But all of the charges were dismissed by what the police report described as a ‘Big City Attorney,’ after Blaze agreed to enter CD treatment.” I noted, “I don’t see anything underhanded with this agreement. That kind of deal, for a minor offense is pretty typical.”
With naïve optimism, Harper thought out loud, “Alright. Finally, a chance to turn it around.”
I cleared my throat. “Okay, one month later, on February 26, 1999, Blaze and his friend Gunner Stone, stole a 30-30 Winchester, a Crossman 33 Air Rifle with scope, and a Chrome plated Colt .45 pistol, from ‘Fats’ Gangel and ‘Moe’ Brown. The pistol was unusual as it had a shiny chrome grip. Blaze and Stone’s vehicles were impounded and searched, but no weapons were found. After the vehicles were released investigators realized neither Blaze nor Stone had a current valid driver’s license. No charges were filed. However, within two weeks, on March 8, Blaze and Stone crashed a house party and Blaze, with a chrome plated Colt .45 in hand, made everyone hand over their money.”
“Did he get charges then?”
I shook my head, “No. There were lots of illegal drugs present and no one wanted their names in a criminal complaint. The incident was documented by an undercover DEA agent in the home and they weren’t ready to give up his cover. One week after that, on March 15, Blaze was charged with Aggravated DWI.”
Harper considered, “Do you think the DEA tipped off the police to make sure he was charged with something? Maybe even give them opportunity to search his car for the guns?”
I smiled, “It happens. On March 17, 1999, Blaze’s sister Deb Zion tells police Blaze has been calling her and threatening to kill her. No reason reported. No charges filed.”
“Zion? That’s an odd surname.”
“It’s one of the most common surnames in the world. It was her birth name. Half the people with this surname live in Africa.”
“Is his sister black?”
“I would guess so. Her race wasn’t in the file.”
Harper sat up, “I never even considered this, being I’m,” she waved a hand across her blonde hair and vanilla white skin, very white—is Billy Blaze black?”
“No. He’s white and so is the majority of his cohort.”
“How do you know their race if you don’t know his sister’s race?”
“They have criminal charges, so that information is available through the Department of Corrections.” I stopped and considered, “I believe it was sometime in March or April of 1999, when you were conceived correct?” Tony Shileto had run a background check on Harper for me. Her record was clean.
Harper quieried, “Did you come across mom’s name anywhere?”
“No, I didn’t. And that’s a good sign. It means she wasn’t involved in all the illegal stuff Blaze was involved in.”
Hopeful, she asked, “Do you think it’s possible Billy Blaze isn’t my father?”
“I believe Blaze is your father. She wanted you to stay away from him. If there was any possibility he wasn’t your father, he wouldn’t be on your birth certificate.” I took a breath and continued, “On May 3, 1999, Blaze showed up at Linda Michael’s home looking for her husband. Blaze threatened, ‘He better be home in an hour.’ Fearing for his life, Linda called the police. That night she received a call stating, ‘You called the cops. Now you’re a dead bitch.’ Even though she absolutely believes the calls were from Billy Blaze, they weren’t able to trace the number, so no charges were filed. On July 16, 1999, Jeff Anderson is found badly beaten in the parking lot of the La Playette bar in St. Joseph. Jeff reports he was assaulted by Billy Blaze, but he refuses to press charges. On August 5, 1999, Dominique Romano calls the police and states Blaze threatened him at the White Horse bar in St. Cloud. Once Dominique is safely escorted to his home, he refuses to press charges. He states it will only make things worse.”
“It’s all so crazy.”
“The next one’s a little lighter. On August 14, 1999, Kaplin’s Dentistry on Northway Drive in St. Cloud, reported Billy Blaze was in for a check up. When he left they realized two cans of cola were taken from the fridge, and a C.D. was stolen from the boombox. They decided it wasn’t worth filing charges.”
“Did they say what the c.d. was?”
“I’m a Barbie Girl, in a Barbie World—Aqua.”
Stunned, Harper asked, “You’re kidding right?”
“Yes-I’m kidding. They didn’t record the name of the c.d.” I took a deep breath and continued, “Okay, Deb Zion let her brother stay at her home for a couple days in August. On August 29, she called the police and reported she just realized checks were being forged from her account. That night, her son, Lenny received a call from Blaze telling Lenny to stay in the basement, as he’s going to shoot up the home in retaliation for Deb calling the police.”
“Nice brother. Very appreciative of her kindness.”
“On October 2, 1999, Blaze and Stone broke into the St. Cloud Animal Hospital and stole boxes of disposable syringes. Police responded to the silent alarm and Blaze was arrested leaving the building. He’s released pending a trial. Three days later Shari Kramer calls the police reporting Blaze entered her home and threatened her friend, ‘Chief’ with a rifle. Chief apparently owed him money. Blaze fired the rifle in the home, and then handed ‘Chief’ the shell stating, ‘the next one’s in you.’ Blaze then walked down the street to the Press bar, and fanned the gun across people sitting in the bar. A bouncer approached him, and he aimed the rifle at the bouncer’s head. The bouncer wrestled the rifle away. Blaze pled guilty to two counts of Terroristic threats, and was sentence to two years in the Minnesota Correctional Facility in Stillwater. Blaze was released from jail for Thanksgiving weekend to get his affairs in order, before going to prison. On Thanksgiving Eve, he rolled his Corvette numerous times after driving at high speeds down I-94 south of St. Cloud. He was found unconscious and didn’t recover consciousness until the next day. For the rest of 2000, until 2002, he was in prison. He lost his good time as a result of fights in prison.”
“Please tell me prison turned him around.” She added sarcastically, “It is a correctional facility, right?”
“Shortly after his release, on May 3, 2002, Blaze was ticketed for public urination. The reporting officer said, Blaze was standing shirtless in the Perkins parking lot at 1:30 a.m. with his jeans open and a woman named Cayenne Tiller was on her knees in front of him performing oral sex on him. Blaze argued he was just peeing and the woman had knelt down by him because she felt sick. The officer thought he’d give him a break, and just write him up for public urination. In return, Blaze wanted to fight the officer, but the officer just walked away.”
Harper was trying to find some sad humor in this. “So this time it’s the Smokey the Bear scenario—wearing jeans but no shirt.”
I smiled, “We seem to have a cartoon bear theme going.”
Harper grinned, “I’m sorry. It’s just so crazy.”
“Honestly, I wouldn’t know what to say myself.”
She added, “And cartoon bears have an apparel problem. Yogi bear and Fozzie bear both where a hat and a tie, and no other clothing. Bears seem to struggle with understanding the purpose of clothing.”
“I can’t argue with the evidence.”
Harper seemed to be recovering from being shell shocked with bad news. She asked, “Are there any positive events?”
“He had a flag decal on the windshield of his corvette. Keep in mind all of my information is from law enforcement files. With covid-19, I can’t simply go door to door. I’ve made some phone calls, but these people aren’t easy to find, and when I find them, they’re reluctant to talk. Blaze was apparently married to Mara Berrara in June or July of 2002.”
“Is it Maira or Marra?”
“It’s spelled M-A-R-A, but it’s just more fun to say Maira Barrera, so that’s what I’m going with until I hear otherwise. On August 2, 2002, the night manager at the Travel Host Motel in St. Cloud, called the police asking them to remove an unruly resident. Blaze had deep lacerations on his right wrist and forearm from smashing in the driver’s side window of Mara’s vehicle with his fist. The manager said Blaze was smearing blood on motel counter. Blaze told the clerk he left his wife’s car undriveable. Blaze was incarcerated for forty-five days on a probation violation.” I glanced up to make sure she was okay. “You have a half-brother. Blaze fathered a son with a Mexican woman when he was fifteen.”
Harper perked up. “Tell me about my bro.”
“On October 1, 2002, Concerns were expressed that Blaze was harboring his son, Phoenix Blaze. Phoenix had an outstanding warrant for car shopping.”
“Car shopping?”
“Breaking the windows of cars to steal items. Blaze claimed he hadn’t seen Phoenix. But on November 17, 2002, Phoenix was arrested after stealing a car only a block away from his dad’s home. Phoenix went on to become a major drug dealer for the Latin Kings. He’s currently serving an eight-year prison sentence in Oak Park Heights-- the only maximum security prison in Minnesota. It’s underground.”
Harper shook her head, “I won’t be visiting my bro. This is like a horror movie that you can’t shut off until you’ve seen the end.”
“Getting back to Billy Blaze, on November 6, 2002, Mara Berrara refuses to let her
husband, into her home because he’s intoxicated and he’s a mean drunk. Billy breaks all the porch
windows and threatens to “bury her” once he gets inside the house. After a physical altercation
with the police, Blaze spends the night in jail. Mara reports she is deathly afraid of Billy.”
“How long does this go on?”
“A while.”
Harper got up and retrieved a blanket from the corner of the three season porch. She
squirmed a little in her seat, until she was comfortable. “Keep going.”
“In 2003, the DEA takes a special interest in Blaze when Curtis Wicklin calls them from the Stearns county jail and reports Blaze is filling his wife Cheryl with drugs. On March 3, 2003
officers perform a welfare check and find Cheryl with slurred speech, bloodshot eyes and
needle marks all over her arms. She claims it’s because her doctor, who she refers to as “bobble
dick,” always has to try numerous times when he draws blood. Cheryl claims it’s all ‘a big set-up’
and her husband is just trying to make her look bad.”
“Bobble dick,” now that’s a nice nickname.”
“It turns out her doctor’s name is bobble dick, spelled, B-O-B-E-L-D-Y-K. They contact
Dr. Bobeldyk, who indicates he hasn’t drawn blood from Cheryl for over a year and he’s never
had difficulty drawing blood from her. On April 28, 2003, Blaze is arrested for trespassing when
he is intoxicated and refuses to leave the Ultimate Sports Bar and Grille in Waite Park. The drama
at home heats up when Curtis Wicklin is released early from jail. Curtis finds his wife in Blaze’s
bed, grabs her by the hair and drags her out of the home. She manages to dial ‘911.’ Cheryl claims
Curtis told her, “I’ll kill you bitch,” and her good friend, Billy Blaze witnessed the threat. Curtis
pled guilty to assault.”
“Unbelievable.”
“On July 30, 2003, Blaze reports his home was robbed. Even though he reports he was
face to face as he fought off the burglar, he can’t identify him. There was no forcible entry
noted. Police question if the home was actually robbed. Blaze filed a claim to his insurance.”
Later that day a report came in that Blaze had made threatening phone calls to Carol West.”
“Who is she?”
“No idea. On August 2, 2003, Mara Berrara files for divorce and she is granted an order
for Protection against Blaze. Mara reported that in the little over a year they’ve been married,
he’s punched her in the stomach, choked her, and dragged her around the house by her hair.
She reports being terrified, and knows he’s watching her when she’s in the community. There are
times she’s opened the curtains to find him standing right outside her window. She can’t sleep at
night and doesn’t even feel like eating.”
“I think I’m okay with never meeting my bio-dad, but I have to hear how this ends.”
On October 28, 2003, Chris Parker reported hearing glass breaking. Police arrive and
find Billy Blaze on the street with a baseball bat. Blaze said he was also awakened by glass
breaking and stepped out to check it out. All of the windows had been busted out of a home,
that was set to be demolished. Blaze said he saw teens jump in a car and take off. No charges
were filed. And then Blaze is off the grid for over a year. The rumor is, that he became involved
with a wealthy divorcee and is traveling the world.”
“I didn’t see that coming.”
I paused and asked, “Are you okay if I use the exact wording for the upcoming complaints. We have too much to cover to try to rephrase what he said in politically correct terms.“ I also felt that the exact wording, gave a clearer picture of this guy.
Harper said, “It would be my preference. I want to hear what you have, not what you think I should know.”
“By April of 2005 he’s back in St. Cloud. On April 14, 2005, Blaze is charged with violation of a DANCO order—Domestic Abuse No Contact Order. After they listen to Maya Berrara’s phone messages, he is also charged with Terroristic threats. Blaze is recorded saying, “You think you’re so fucking smart by not answering. I’m killing your motherfucking ass, bitch! And fuck you and everybody in this world. I’m killing you! You got that bitch? Fucking cunt. Answer that phone or I’m blowing up your house.” After a half hour passes, Blaze calls again and in his most pleasant voice, leaves a netw message, “Hi pretty. I’m horny and I want only you, babe. I want to taste you. You know what I’m talking about. How about answering the phone? Okay?”
Harper laughed at the ridiculousness of it. “Just ignore the last call. In the mood for
romance?”
“When police informed him that this time, they were able to trace the calls to his home,
Blaze stated, ‘Maybe it was my son.’ Now you get a break. Billy Blaze is sent to prison from 2005 to January of 2008. He executed his sentence, so he’s a free man when he’s released.”
Harper furrowed her eyebrows, “What does it mean to execute a sentence?”
“Offenders often do some time, and then are released early with the agreement they spend years on probation. People typically want to get out of prison as soon as possible, so they take the deal. But Blaze did the full sentence, with no early release, so he wouldn’t have to worry about probation. Once released, Blaze drops off the radar for a full year. The next we hear of Billy Blaze is on January 31, 2008, when he gets his fourth DWI in Ohio. He disappears again until September 28, 2008, when he pops up, once again, in St. Cloud. A man in a vehicle waves down a police officer saying he just picked up a man with broken arm who smashed up a Corvette. The ‘vette had struck a bridge, left the road and rolled. The police officer recognizes the injured man is Blaze. Billy refuses to go to the hospital, saying he doesn’t have insurance and can’t afford the bill. The officer points out that Blaze was too intoxicated to be driving. Blaze tells him, that the car was driven by a friend, and that since the accident he can’t remember the guys name or where he lives. Co-owners of Corvette were Billy Blaze and Margo Miller. Blaze was charged with driving without insurance. Then he’s gone again for over three years. The rumor is he’s running drugs in Florida. A year and a half later, on May 22, 2011, Blaze is arrested for a hit and run in St Cloud. He followed a woman’s car into the Hobby Lobby parking lot and bumped her car from behind in an apparent effort to get her to talk to him. She said when she stepped out, and he saw she was eight months pregnant, he swore at her and drove off. She was furious.”
Harper was lost in thought. “What do you think Blaze is doing that he’s keeps dropping below the radar?”
“Honestly, I don’t know. It’s hard to believe it’s something legal. On November 30, 2011, Randy Snyder calls the police and tells him Blaze is standing in his yard looking in his window. Snyder feared Blaze was going to kill him, as Blaze had threatened to kill him years earlier. Randy looks down and sees an envelope on the counter marked ‘Connie.’ The envelope states, ‘Billy Blaze is coming to kill you.’ Randy asks the officers if Blaze is going to kill Connie Bloom. Connie was at his home yesterday, and Blaze has told her he’d shut her big mouth in the past. The officers state they believe he was referring to Connie Berg.”
“How many Connie’s did he threaten to kill?”
“At least two. And then something changes. Up to this point, he’s consistently getting out of charges. Now the police seem to be paying closer attention to him. On July 20, 2012, Blaze apparently had a woman bent over the trunk of a car, with her skirt pulled up, in the Grand Central parking ramp in northeast St. Cloud and was taking her from behind. When a police officer told them to go home, Blaze threatened the officer. Blaze is charged with Disorderly Conduct. Two weeks later, Blaze received a ticket on August 3, 2012 for Obstructing the legal process after he interfered with the officer’s attempt to give a woman a ticket. She ended up being released without charges, so her name wasn’t in the file. On July 6, 2013, Blaze gets his fifth DWI. Woops—missed one. On February 24, 2013 Blaze is picked up for suspicious activity.”
“What is suspicious activity?”
“Typically, you see this in the record when they suspect someone is selling drugs, but somehow he ditched the product, so they didn’t up have enough to charge him. The following day, Blaze is picked for a threats complaint. My guess is Blaze had an idea on who ratted him out and found him. Two days after that, on February 26, Blaze is charged with Domestic Assault and Felon in possession of a weapon. He threatened a woman with a handgun. When the police spotted him walking down the street, he had a large bolt cutter up his sleeve. He didn’t have a weapon on his body, but they were able to photograph the imprint of handgun on his waist, where he is known to carry a gun. A .45 caliber handgun was found 3 feet away. When they searched him they also find blank checks belonging to Clara Lebowitz. Clara reports she’s never met Blaze and didn’t know how he got her checks.”
“It sounds like thing are really starting to amp up.”
“On May 23, 2013, Blaze was charged with Terroristic threats against Karsten Boon.
Blaze was taken in for a couple days by Craig and Irene Foley. Blaze decided to take a nap on
Craig’s recliner in their living room, bare chested and pants open—because he ate too much.
Karsten thought Blaze was being rude, so he set a cold beer on his chest. Blaze hopped to his feet
and put a loaded gun to Karsten’s head, threatening to kill him. When interviewed, Blaze denied
having the gun. He tells police, ‘Karsten’s on drugs. That punk mother fucker. Why are
you pullin this on me? I could give a fuck less about a fuckin drug addict mother fucker. I hate
drug dealers and I want to nail’em all.’”
“But isn’t Blaze also a dealer?”
“Probably, but he feels pretending he hates them is better cover. The most
interesting part of this story is Craig and Irene had taken Blaze in, when they found him in the alley behind the Press bar badly beaten. His eyes were black and blue and he had marks on his face
that were clearly made by punches from someone who was wearing a ring with skull on it. Blaze
claimed he fell. He had a pocket full of pain meds, but claimed they were all prescription. Craig
told police he took Blaze in because he wanted to help out a former vet. Irene wasn’t happy
about it. She stated if anyone did something Blaze didn’t like, he’d pat the gun on his waistband
to intimidate them. She described Blaze as ‘pure evil.’ During the police interview with
Irene, she reveals, that Blaze violently raped her friend, Cheryl Wicklin just a few months ago.
Irene hadn’t told her husband as Cheryl swore her to secrecy. Craig’s statement revealed Blaze
had told him he was a Desert Storm vet who was shot in the stomach, the head and in the leg.
Blaze told Craig his dad was mafia and was murdered.”
Harper interjected, “Is any of that true?”
“I have no idea. I need you to sign some releases so I can review some records.”
“It’s the first time I’ve heard him lose a fight.”
“He’s not the kind of guy who calls the police if he was beaten.”
“You said Cheryl Wicklin’s name earlier.”
“Her husband called the police and told them Blaze was shooting Cheryl up with drugs a
decade ago. Blaze was her witness when she reported her husband had assaulted her after his release from jail. Cheryl eventually got clean, but Blaze managed to find her and felt she owed him.”
Harper sighed, “If you do him a favor, he cashes it in heavy, doesn’t he?”
I nodded in agreement. “The charges he compiled in 2013 send Blaze back to prison from 2013 through most of 2015. I do think you’re on the right track when you mentioned he lost his first fight. Something changed. Now he doesn’t have any money. On December 12, 2015, he’s arrested for check forgery. On January 11, 2016, he’s arrested for check forgery again. On February 2, Margo Miller reports her Corvette was stolen. When Blaze is pulled over in it, she tells police it was just a misunderstanding. On February 5, 2016, it’s reported Blaze stole cash from a residence. On May 16, 2016, Blaze is picked up for busting the heads on garden gnomes with a golf club in the middle of the night, but the victim declines to press charges. On October 3, 2016, Michelle Evens reports suspicious activity in Blaze’s basement. Blaze threatens Michelle by calling and saying, “Goodbye sunshine, hello darkness.” Michelle’s advised to get an OFP against Blaze.”
Harper sarcastically adds, “Now dear old dad’s finding his rhythm again.”
“On October 12, 2016, the police are called as Blaze is being obnoxious in Taco Johns and he won’t leave. This is right across from the police station by the way.”
Harper laughs. It’s all she can do at this point.
“On October 18, 2016, Nellie Ellison calls the police. Blaze has told her that her daughter better leave town or he will come over and teach her a lesson. Nellie’s advised to get a restraining order against Blaze.”
“Do you have the daughter’s name?”
“No. It wasn’t in the report. On November 24, 2016, Blaze is charged with Assault in the 2nd Degree after he beats a cabdriver with a crutch. The cab had picked up Blaze at the MC’s Dugout Bar. Blaze lit up a cigarette in the cab, and the driver asked him to put it out. Blaze got angry. When the ride ended, Blaze through his money on the floor of the cab. When the driver bent down to collect it, Blaze beat him in the face with his crutch.”
“Why was he on crutches?”
“It didn’t say. Fortunately, a guy named ‘Big Mike’ Riley witnessed this and intervened. He yelled, ‘Fucking Blaze, just settle down!’ When Blaze attempted to strike the driver again, ‘Big Mike’ hit Blaze so hard he dropped to the tar. Blaze then wanted to fight ‘Big Mike,’ but Mike just laughed and told the cabdriver to call the police. ‘Big Mike’ told the police, ‘Blaze is always bad when he drinks tequila.”
Harper comments, “I don’t think tequila completely explains his behavior.”
“On New Year Eve of 2016, Blais is intoxicated and swearing at the VFW in St. Cloud. When the bartender refuses to serve him anymore alcohol, Blais threatens VFW bartender Jolyn Anderson, ‘I know where you live. I’ll hunt you down and will fucking kill you.’ Three weeks later, Blaze is considered a suspect in a financial card fraud case, but there isn’t enough evidence to charge him. On February 24, 2017, an undercover agent reports he overheard Blaze planning a robbery. The pharmacy is warned and they amp up security. On March 17, 2017, Randy Vogel is found in Cloverleaf trailer park, shirt soaked in blood, bleeding from his face and the back of head. Vogel reports Blaze punched him and stabbed him with screwdriver. Blaze went to the home with a biker named, Darko Dice. The door was locked so Blaze used a screwdriver to force entry. Blaze grabbed Vogel off couch, punched him and stabbed him. Vogel states that Blaze accused him of leaking out information about a robbery. He swears he didn’t, and he’s telling the truth. Vogel doesn’t want to press charges, stating Blaze has beat him up before, and he told me if I ever press charges against him, he’ll kill me and my family. The state feels there’s enough evidence to proceed with charges of Assault in the 2nd Degree against Blaze, even without Vogel’s cooperation,. Randy Vogel disappears before the trial and hasn’t been heard from since. His fiancé, Daisy Ronin, files a missing person’s report, and tells police Randy wouldn’t have willingly disappeared without her.” I pause to let this sink in, before I share, “Now this is the time you’re turning 18. Blaze fills out papers which give you power of attorney over his affairs, should he become incarcerated. Your mom makes you promise you’ll never seek him out.”
Harper shudders and under her breath softly says, “Thank you mom.”
On April 3, 2017, Terri Connor is parked at the Kwik trip in St. Cloud. She’s about to
back away, when a car pulls up behind hers driven by Darko Dice. Blaze shouts out the
passenger window, ‘Hey hot stuff,’ followed by additional remarks about her body.” Terri
asked him to knock it off and let her leave. The car bumps her vehicle. Carrie Nelson observes
and asks, “Did they just hit your car?” Blaze steps out of vehicle, and shouts at Carrie, “Fat
bitch, get your fat ass back in your car.” Blaze and Dice continue to yell obscenities at Carrie,
while keeping Terri blocked in. Both women, thought they were going to be assaulted. Eventually,
Darko backs the car away and Terri takes off. Fearing for Carrie’s safety, Terri calls the police.
When the police find Darko and Blaze cruising Division, Darko is charged with DWI. Blaze was
initially charged with Disorderly Conduct, but both women refuse to follow through with charges.”
“I thought for sure you were going to say he pulled his pants down again.” Harper pulls
the blanket tight around herself. “Whatever Blaze was struggling with, he has apparently
recovered from and is scarier now than ever.”
On June 3, 2017, Alissa Larson, stated she saw a shirtless man, with a large tattoo of the
Grim Reaper carrying the scythe, on his back, bust into her neighbor’s apartment. Alissa
watched through her peephole, directly across the hall. She gives an exact description of Billy
Blaze, down to the tattoos. But once she talks to her neighbors about it, she is warned of Blaze
and she refuses to participate in a photo line-up, out of fear of retaliation. Now here’s an
interesting twist. In July, Blaze is seen with a rooted platinum haired bombshell named
Vera Lake.”
“It sounds like a name out of a marvel comics magazine.”
“That isn’t the weird part. A DEA informant, I’ll refer to as “Joey,” goes to a crackhouse in Minneapolis with Blaze and Vera. They haven’t spotted Blaze in crack houses prior to this time. Vera is in her forties, but is a college student at St. Cloud State, so I don’t know if this was a field trip for Vera or a new venture for Blaze. Blaze tells Joey and Vera to walk around for a bit while he disappears, and then they leave. Joey admits that on a night Blaze was out of town, he slept with Vera. She told him that she is not officially ‘with’ Blaze. She wants to party with Blaze for a couple weeks, and then is leaving to LA to be with her daughter, Saffron. Her exact words were, ‘I thought I’d party with him for a bit, stay at his house awhile and then goodbye, good luck, I’ll see you later.’ Joey is pulled from the undercover operation, as his colleagues feel Blaze is in love with Vera and he’s going kill Joey when he finds out about this.”
“So was Joey the informant all along?”
“Yes. During Joey’s exit interview he reveals there’s another woman, Gwyneth Porter, who fell hard for Blaze at this time. Gwyneth’s a successful business woman in St. Cloud from a respected family and she doesn’t want anyone to know she’s involved with Blaze. Gwyneth lives in a nice house over on Cooper avenue south in St. Cloud. Gwyneth shared with Joey that she’s stayed away from Blaze after driving by and seeing Vera’s blue Ford Tauras at Blaze’s house night after night. Joey had asked Blaze about Gwyneth, but Blaze pretended like he didn’t hear him. There’s also a woman with a small child that stops by Blaze’s home occasionally, but Joey never caught her name. She never stays long. And then there’s drama with Cayenne Tiller.”
“So where did I hear her name earlier?”
“She’s the one with Blaze when he got the public urination charge. Cayenne is in front of Blaze’s home ranting and raving in a drug induced rage a few times during the summer. On August 17, 2017, when the police pick her up for disturbing the peace, she claims Blaze hit her. But she’s so nonsensical, they didn’t do anything with it. On August 18, the house next to where Blaze is staying, burns down. When police are investigating the fire, the neighbors share there’s lots of ‘foot traffic,’ at all hours of the night, at the Blaze home.”
Harper curiously asked, “Is this story coming to an end? I think I’ve heard enough.”
I smiled, “I’m done.”
“What do you mean you’re done?”
“A week later, there isn’t hide nor hair of Blaze to be found.”
“If the DEA was thinking of prosecuting him, they must have some information on
him.”
“Here’s the last report. On August 22, 2017, Blaze is seen out with Vera Lake at Legends
Bar in St. Cloud for jazz night. A neighbor hears an argument involving Blaze and a man and a
woman at 2:00 a.m.. It’s not unusual, so she goes back to sleep. The Corvette’s sitting there the
next morning, but no one else is home. Gunner Stone returns the next afternoon with a badly
bruised face. Billy Blaze is never seen or heard from again. Eventually Margo comes and gets the
Corvette.”
Harper ponders for a minute. “What do you think happened?”
“No idea. Do you want me to keep looking for him?”
Harper glances out the window as she answers. “I don’t think so. I stopped caring
about him ten minutes ago. But the ending bothers me. Give me the night to think about it. I
just wonder how mom ever ended up with that idiot.”
“Kari was young, and I’ve heard Blaze could be charming.”
Harper was not satisfied with the answer, but she tried to appease me by offering,
“Yeah, maybe. Mom used to say, ‘There’s some guys you can’t save.’ Maybe Blaze taught her
that lesson.”
“I’m willing to keep looking, but it’s going to take time with the coronavirus
restrictions.” I wanted to upfront with her, “There will be days where my best efforts will produce
nothing, and if I’m working I’ll still expect to be paid…” I am looking for a place to shoot the back cover for this book. A burned building or a place where there’s ashes. Let me know your thoughts. Thank you for your feedback!
Thanks for listening,
Frank Think in terms of Bridges Burned…
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