The Murder of Jessie Blodgett
I watched another episode of American Monster for researching this case. It’s season 1 episode 4, titled ‘Sing For the Camera.’ I was surprised to found out this took place in Wisconsin, where I’m originally from. Hartford is about an hour and 20 minutes from where I lived in Verona, Wisconsin.
An innocent, talented girl lost her life at the hands of her close friend.
Background
Jessie Blodgett was 19 years old was she killed. She sang in the concert choir in high school, she was in musical theatre and would write her own music. Jessie went to UW-Milwaukee after high school, and continued her passion for music.
Jessie
She was good with friends with a few other musicians, especially another 19 year old named Dan Bartelt. Dan and Jessie would spend a few days a week together sharing their passion for music. Dan was also a writer, and was writing a book called ‘Red is Red.’ It was rumored that Dan was also interested in Jessie romantically, but that she was more interested in just being friends. Dan had recently dropped out of college, and told people he had a job at a factory. Dan’s life was unwinding, and no one knew.
The First Attack
On July 12, 2013, a 21 year old named Melissa Etzler went for a walk with her dog at Richfield Park. Melissa was going back to her car when she heard footsteps behind her. She was attacked, but able to fight off her attacker, and even take the knife away from him. She was immediately taken to the hospital.
A few days later, she met with the police at the park to do a reenactment. She described her attacker as an 18-22 year old male, driving a navy blue Dodge Caravan. She also said he didn’t disguise himself, but she didn’t recognize him. Melissa also had deep cuts on her legs and hands.
Jessie Blodgett’s Murder
On July 14, 2013, Jessie finished her last show. She was Fiddler in Fiddler on the Roof. Her dad, Buck Blodgett was interviewed and he said the cast had a party after the show, and Jessie had gotten home late.
Jessie in Fiddler on the Roof
On July 15, 2013 around 8:15am, Jessie’s mom, Joy left for work and Jessie was still asleep.
Joy returned around 12:30 for lunch. She said the house was quiet, and she went upstairs to wake Jessie up. Jessie wasn’t waking up, and so she went to shake her, and said Jessie was cold and blue. Joy called 911.
“911: “Hartford 911, what’s your emergency?”
Joy Blodgett: “My daughter is blue. I went to wake her up and I just got home for lunch and she won’t wake up! Oh my God!”
911: “OK. Is she breathing?”
Joy Blodgett: “I don’t think so. No.””
Joy also saw strangulation marks on Jessie’s neck, and marks on her wrists.
“Joy Blodgett: “Her pants are all wet, and she’s got, it looks like strangulation marks.”
911: “There are strangulation marks?”
Joy Blodgett: “That’s what it looks like. I don’t know what’s going on. I don’t know what’s going on.””
Police and EMTs were dispatched, but it was too late. Jessie Blodgett died at the scene.
Investigation
One of the officers, Deputy Meyer, told the others that he had seen a blue Dodge Caravan a few days earlier and ran the plates. The car was registered to the Bartelt family. The parents didn’t match the description of the attacker, but they had a 19 year old son named Dan.
Detective Joel Clausing with the Washington County WI police, called Dan to ask him to come into the police station. The officer asked Dan where he was at that moment, and Dan said he was at Jessie Blodgett’s vigil, comforting her parents. The police were stunned.
Dan was asked where he was on the day of Melissa’s attack. The detectives also noticed that he had an injury by his elbow, and on his thumb. Dan said he was at work, and that’s how he got the injuries. The police had already checked with his “work,” and Dan made up the whole job. Instead, he would go to different parks and read and write all day.
Confession
Dan finally confessed to attacking Melissa, saying he wanted to scare someone. He said that he “life scared him,” and that he “wasn’t very good at it.”
Dan was arrested for the attack on Melissa Etzler.
Dan Bartelt
Interrogation Round 2
The next day, the same detectives questioned Dan about Jessie’s murder. Dan wasn’t budging. Detective Clausing kept asking him questions, and finally said “what do you think happened to her?” Dan said that she was raped and murdered.
Nobody had known that Jessie was sexually assaulted. Dan still denied killing Jessie, so the detectives had to do more investigating.
Dan said he was at Woodlawn Park the day Jessie was killed. They were able to get surveillance footage from the park, and at 10:30am, after Jessie’s murder, they see Dan. They also found a cereal box in the garbage with a ball gag, ligatures and alcohol wipes inside. Dan’s fingerprints were on those items, as well as Jessie’s DNA. Dan’s DNA was also under Jessie’s fingernails.
They also searched Dan’s computer, and found that he was looking up information about bondage and serial killers, about how many victims each one had.
Trial and Conviction
On August 11, 2014, Dan’s trial began.
Dan faced Jessie’s parents in court, and said he was innocent. He said:
““Buck, Joy, I can’t give you the answers that you’re looking for,” this jumpsuit that I’m wearing, these shackles that I’m put in, don’t make me guilty.””
Dan was still found guilty of first degree intentional homicide. He was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Dan at trial
Joy Blodgett testifying and 911 call
Other
Jessie’s father, Buck has decided to forgive Dan. He said:
““I believe there is good and bad in each of us, so I don’t demonize or vilify you.””
Jessie’s parents also created the LOVE>hate Project, in 2016. It’s a project that helps victims of human trafficking and domestic violence.
Dan Bartelt has never confessed to killing Jessie.
Jessie was a talented singer and musician, who probably would be famous today if this didn’t happen. I found some videos of her singing from YouTube, so that instead of focusing on all the bad things, Jessie can be remembered for all the things she was good at in life.
FINAL THOUGHTS
All cases are sad, but this one is tragic because nobody ever saw evil in Dan. Dan was constantly around Jessie, and even around her weeks before she died. Dan is an evil person, and probably just never got the help he needed because nobody knew of what he was planning.
I admire Jessie’s family for turning their pain into something good to help others. I hope a lot of other people who are in violent relationships or friendships are using it as a resource. I hope one day Dan decides to tell them why he did what he did, but at least he can’t hurt anyone else.
Sources
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/jessie-blodgett-murder-19-year-old-man-charged-in-death-of-wis-teen/
