Executive Summary
- Chad Aanerud pleaded guilty to first-degree murder, kidnapping, burglary, and assault charges.
- The October 2024 incident involved the fatal shooting of neighbor Lyle Maske and the abduction of a mother and four children.
- Authorities recovered 13 stolen firearms from Aanerud’s vehicle following his arrest near Little Falls.
- Sentencing has been scheduled for February 17 following the acceptance of the plea deal.
A northern Minnesota man entered a guilty plea on Wednesday to multiple felonies, including first-degree murder, stemming from a violent crime spree in October 2024 that resulted in the death of a neighbor and the abduction of a pregnant woman and her four children.
Court records confirm that Chad Aanerud, 36, pleaded guilty to one count each of first-degree murder, kidnapping, and first-degree burglary, as well as two counts of second-degree assault. Following the plea, judicial authorities scheduled his sentencing hearing for February 17.
According to the criminal complaint filed in Brainerd, the incident began on the night of October 31, 2024. Prosecutors state that Aanerud arrived at a residence on Loerch Road, where he sexually assaulted a pregnant woman identified by family members as his ex-partner. Authorities allege he also issued threats against the woman’s children during the assault.
Investigators reported that Aanerud subsequently seized firearms from a neighboring structure on the property before dousing the home in gasoline and setting it on fire. The woman instructed her children to flee to a neighbor’s house for safety. When the neighbor, identified by police as 62-year-old Lyle Maske, approached the property to investigate the disturbance, Aanerud fatally shot him. Maske was pronounced dead at the scene.
The complaint details that following the shooting, Aanerud forced the woman and her four children into a van and fled the area. Law enforcement issued an Amber Alert the following morning. Police located and arrested Aanerud near Little Falls at approximately 7:20 a.m., recovering 13 stolen firearms from his vehicle. During an interview with detectives, Aanerud reportedly admitted to the abduction and arson but claimed the shooting of Maske was accidental.
Judicial Proceedings and Sentencing
This guilty plea moves the case directly to the sentencing phase, bypassing a trial for the capital charges. The court will determine the final sentencing terms in February based on the severity of the offenses, including the first-degree murder conviction. While Aanerud has entered a plea in this specific case, it is important to note that under the United States legal system, all individuals charged with crimes are technically presumed innocent until the court officially accepts the plea and enters a final judgment of conviction.
