What Happened to Dru Sjodin? Background & Abduction

On November 22, 2003, Dru Katrina Sjodin, a 22-year-old University of North Dakota student and Gamma Phi Beta sorority member, was abducted from the Columbia Mall parking lot in Grand Forks, North Dakota.

The disappearance of Sjodin, who had just finished her shift at Victoria’s Secret and purchased a purse at Marshall Field’s, became a case that captivated the United States. The final contact she had was a phone conversation with her boyfriend, Chris Lang, which ended abruptly, leading to immediate concerns about her safety.

The Discovery and Arrest

A week after her disappearance, police arrested Alfonso Rodriguez Jr., a 50-year-old registered level-3 sex offender with a history of substance abuse and violent crimes, including rape and kidnapping. Rodriguez, who had been released from prison earlier that year, became the primary suspect in Sjodin’s abduction.

Investigation Findings

Authorities found discrepancies in Rodriguez’s alibi and discovered evidence linking him to the crime. Receipts from stores near the mall, a knife purchased at Menards, and a blood-stained knife in Rodriguez’s car with Sjodin’s DNA were among the key pieces of evidence. The investigation revealed Rodriguez’s presence near the mall on the day of Sjodin’s disappearance, contradicting his claim of watching a movie not showing in the area.

The Tragic End

Sjodin’s body was discovered on April 17, 2004, near Crookston, Minnesota, where Rodriguez lived. The state of her body indicated a brutal assault, including beating, stabbing, and sexual violence, leading to death from either a neck wound, suffocation, or exposure.

Legal Proceedings and Sentencing

Rodriguez was tried under federal jurisdiction due to the interstate nature of the crime. In 2006, he was convicted of kidnapping resulting in death and initially sentenced to death, a sentence later overturned in 2021. The case marked the first death penalty case in North Dakota in a century. In 2023, Rodriguez was re-sentenced to life without parole.

Legacy of Dru Sjodin

The case led to significant legislative changes, including the creation of the Dru Sjodin National Sex Offender Public Registry. Additionally, a scholarship was established in Sjodin’s name at the University of North Dakota, and memorial gardens were opened in her honor in Pequot Lakes, Minnesota, and at the UND campus.