MILLE LACS COUNTY, Minn. — Investigators believe a fatal fentanyl overdose in early 2023 may be behind the murder of a man whose body was discovered inside a plastic tote on the shores of Mille Lacs Lake.
Mille Lacs County Sheriff Kyle Burton met with reporters Tuesday to update the case, which has led to criminal charges against 21-year-old Bradley Weyaus and his girlfriend, 22-year-old Alexis Elling.
Burton provided an enhanced timeline of the case, which he described as the most unusual of his career. "In 23 years of law enforcement I've never seen one like this," Burton shared. "It sounds like, from all accounts, this body was moved to multiple places, for a period of up to a week, before the discovery of the body was made on the shores of Mille Lacs. Definitely not a typical homicide case."
The body the sheriff referred to was that of 25-year-old Rodney Pendegayosh Jr., whose lifeless remains were found in that plastic tote on March 21. Charges of second-degree murder have been filed against Weyaus in the shooting death of Pendegayosh, and Elling is charged with aiding an offender – accomplice after the fact.
While criminal complaints spell out the evidence against the two, Burton on Tuesday provided a possible motive. He says Alexis Elling's brother Brandon died of an overdose of fentanyl mixed with methamphetamine on Jan. 10, and witnesses on the scene of that death told investigators that Pendegayosh may have provided the fatal dose of drugs. Sheriff Burton says his deputies have not confirmed that, but the case of Brandon Elling's overdose death is still an active investigation.
In a search warrant released Tuesday, investigators say Alexis Elling, Bradley Weyaus and Rodney Pendegayosh were present when Brandon Elling fatally overdosed. A witness later told authorities about an overheard conversation between Alexis Elling and another sibling, where she related that Bradly Weyaus overheard Pendegayosh bragging about strengthening the drugs that ultimately caused the death of Brandon Elling. She allegedly told her sibling that Weyaus became very angry, killed Rodney Pendegayosh and "stuffed him in a trunk."
Watch: Sheriff briefs reporters on Mille Lacs murder case, provides possible motive
When asked if more charges were possible in the death of Pendegayosh, the sheriff said yes: Detectives are now pouring through a week's worth of security footage from a business across from Alexis Elling's apartment, where they believe the fatal shooting took place. Burton said that same camera captured video of two people - believed to be Bradley Weyaus and Alexis Elling - carrying a heavy tote out of the apartment on Sunday, March 19 and placing it in a black Impala.
That tote was discovered by public works employees just two days later. They cut through duct tape and bungee cords, then lifted a corner of the cover to see what was so heavy. After seeing what they described as a severed foot, the work crew called 911.
Along with the security footage Sheriff Burton said investigators will be combing through data gathered from numerous cell phones and Facebook accounts, to see if anyone else played a role in the death of Rodney Pendegayosh or the concealing of his body.
While plenty of evidence has been gathered through the execution of search warrants at various locations - from bloody clothing and carpet to a hacksaw and the victim's ID - Burton says the shotgun used in the fatal shooting of Pendegayosh has not been recovered.
Weyaus remains in the Mille Lacs County Jail on $600,000 bond, while Alexis Elling is held on $500,000 bail.
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