Moorhead police try new tactic to solve killing of NDSU student ten years ago
A new appeal by Moorhead police investigating the killing of a North Dakota State University student in 2014 is asking people to cast their mind back ten years and try to remember if anyone they know had a change of behavior around the time of his death.
Tom Bearson, 18, of Sartell, Minnesota, was found dead at a Moorhead RV Sales parking lot located at 3002 24th Ave. South, Moorhead. He had just entered his first year at North Dakota State University.
Bearson was last seen with friends in the early morning of Sept. 20, 2014, at an NDSU off-campus residence. Police were called later that morning when he did not show up for a ride to visit family in Alexandria, MN. Three days later, police found Tom's body.
Adopting a new angle in an attempt to solve the case, police are appealing to people in the community who may know the suspect(s) in Bearson's killing, or know someone who knows what happened to him. Police say these people may have exhibited these changes of behavior around the time of Bearson's death.
Altering of physical appearance.
Changes in routine, including missing work, classes, or appointments.
Unexplained injuries during the time Tom was last seen alive and then recovered.
Sudden departure from the area after Tom's death.
A change in someone's mood or displays of anxiety.
Cleaning of vehicles
Intense interest or noticeable disinterest in the investigation or an unexplained knowledge of the situation.
"It is our belief there is information regarding Tom's time at NDSU and the circumstances surrounding his death which has not yet been shared," the police statement says.
Speaking to the Star Tribune on Friday, Capt. Deric Swenson of Moorhead PD said people with information at the time may not have wanted to get someone else in trouble, or were afraid to tell police what they did know.
"Now that you're probably at a different point in your life: Where are you? What are you willing to share?" he said, adding that information keeps coming in, and that there are "people" whose names keep coming up.
