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Copyright 1997 Star Tribune  

Star Tribune (Minneapolis, MN)

January 12, 1997, Metro Edition

SECTION: News; Pg. 7B

LENGTH: 387 words

HEADLINE: Suspect was in prison when killing occurred

BYLINE: Chris Graves; Staff Writer

BODY:

    A 20-year-old man suspected in the killings of two gay men in Minneapolis in the past six months was in a Wisconsin prison and on home arrest when they occurred.

Police said Wednesday that the man was a suspect in the death of Greg Barnes, whose body was found Monday, and in the August killing of Wally Lundin. Both cases are similar to the 1992 strangulation death of Howard Liebhaber. The 20-year-old suspect, then a juvenile, was accused in that killing, but the charges were dismissed.

Records show that the man was imprisoned in Wisconsin from June 1996 until September 1996, nearly a month after Lundin was killed. Records show that he has been in an "intensive sanctions" program since then.

The man said from his home in Wisconsin that he went from prison to a halfway house and then to house arrest. He said he wears an electronic transmitter around his ankle that sends a signal to authorities if he leaves his house.

If he had come to the Twin Cities last weekend, police would have been notified immediately and he would have been arrested, said a spokesman for the Wisconsin Department of Corrections. Under the terms of intense sanctions, an agent is to contact the man several times a day. The man's agent declined to comment.

Minneapolis police said Saturday that they spoke with the man Friday and are trying to set up a time to interview him at length. They are still working to confirm his whereabouts on the dates of the two recent killings.

Although police believe the right person was convicted in the Liebhaber killing, they think that he didn't act alone.

"I may have done some bad things in my life, but I could never, never kill someone," the 20-year-old said, adding that he didn't know he was a suspect in the two recent killings.

Police are trying to determine whether the similarities in the three cases are coincidental.

The victims were white, gay men in their 30s found in their homes partly clothed, tied up and robbed. Liebhaber and Lundin also were gagged and had last been seen at the Gay 90s bar in downtown Minneapolis the Saturday before their bodies were found. Police know Barnes went there on occasion, but they are still trying to determine whether he was there the Saturday before he was found dead.

$ TEMP$

GRAPHIC: Photograph

LANGUAGE: ENGLISH

LOAD-DATE: January 15, 1997

 

 

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Copyright 1996 Star Tribune  

Star Tribune (Minneapolis, MN)

September 3, 1996, Metro Edition

SECTION: News; Pg. 10B

LENGTH: 148 words

HEADLINE: Police seek suspect in asphyxiation

BODY:

    Minneapolis police are looking for a clean-cut black man in his mid to late 20s in connection with the death of Wally Lundin, who was found bound, gagged and partly clothed in his duplex last week.

The suspect was seen leaving Lundin's house in the 200 block of 14th Av. S. about 11 a.m. Aug. 25, the day before co-workers found Lundin asphyxiated.

The suspect was carrying a boombox and a navy blue duffel bag or bowling bag that belonged to the victim and was last seen walking south on 2nd St. NE. from 14th Av. NE. The boombox is a black JVC AM/FM radio with a cassette and CD player and detachable speakers.

Lundin, 31, was at the Gay 90's bar Saturday night and later seen by neighbors early Sunday.

Investigators ask that anyone with information about Lundin, the suspect or the items taken from Lundin's duplex call 1-888-MPD-TIPS.

 

 

LANGUAGE: ENGLISH

LOAD-DATE: September 4, 1996

 

 

 

 

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Copyright 1996 Star Tribune  

Star Tribune (Minneapolis, MN)

August 28, 1996, Metro Edition

SECTION: News; Pg. 7B

LENGTH: 376 words

HEADLINE: Police suspect man's killing not random

BYLINE: Chris Graves; Staff Writer

BODY:

    A Minneapolis man found asphyxiated Monday in his duplex probably knew his killer, police said Tuesday.

Wally Lundin's body was found on a bed in his duplex by coworkers who became concerned when he didn't show up for work Monday morning. He was gagged and his hands and feet were bound behind his back. He was wearing only underwear. The door to the duplex in the 200 block of 14th Av. NE. was open.

Lynn Closway, spokeswoman for American Express Financial Advisors, Lundin's employer for the past 12 years, said Lundin was so punctual that he would call in even if he was going to be 5 minutes late.

Sgt. Scott Gerlicher said Lundin, 31, was last seen going to the restroom at the Gay 90's bar about 11:30 p.m. Saturday; his friends thought he left the bar shortly thereafter. He had gone to the bar and a downtown block party earlier in the evening with friends and co-workers.

It was not unusual for Lundin to leave the bar without telling anyone, which investigators think he did Saturday, Gerlicher said.

Investigators said Lundin lived alone and wasn't dating anyone.

Anyone who saw Lundin at the bar or the party, or who may have seen any suspicious activity around 14th Av. NE. and 2nd St. between Saturday night and Sunday is asked to call 1-888-MPD-TIPS.

Investigators said there were no signs of forced entry into the duplex and it appeared that nothing had been taken. There also were no obvious signs of sexual assault.

Jennifer Lundin said her brother moved from the family's home in Pine City, Minn., after graduating from high school in 1983. That fall, he got the job at American Express and started college. He attended the Minnesota School of Business and graduated from National College, she said.

"He enjoyed being with friends and was always on the go," said Jennifer Lundin, who was planning her brother's funeral services with other family members.

Lundin traveled to Miami every winter and often talked about moving south because he "hated Minnesota's winters," his sister said.

Jennifer Lundin said that she and her brother were close and that he never mentioned having any problems with anyone.

"This has taken us completely by surprise," she said.

 

 

GRAPHIC: Photograph; Map

LANGUAGE: ENGLISH

LOAD-DATE: August 28, 1996

 

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