Newly released video and photos from the Washington County Sheriff’s Office have pulled public attention back to the still-unsolved killing of William “Ike” Eickholt, a 74-year-old Denmark Township man whose body was found along Ravenna Trail last February. Crime Stoppers of Minnesota is offering a $1,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest or conviction, and investigators say the fresh material could be just enough to jog someone’s memory. Friends who knew Eickholt describe him as a well-known, free-spirited local fixture and say the silence around his death has been painful.
Video, photos, and a public push
The Washington County Sheriff’s Office posted a video to its Facebook page that features interviews with investigators, body-worn camera footage from the scene and a photo of the last known sighting, according to KSTP. Crime Stoppers of Minnesota has the case listed on its site, and KSTP reports the organization is offering a $1,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest or conviction. Officials say the public release is meant to keep the investigation in the spotlight and to prod anyone with doorbell, security or dash-cam recordings from that period to give them another look.
Autopsy: homicide by gunshot
The Hennepin County Medical Examiner has ruled Eickholt’s death a homicide and identified the cause as a gunshot wound to the head, per the Star Tribune. Authorities say Eickholt was reported missing on Feb. 1 after deputies responded to multiple fires at his Denmark Township property, and his body was found the next morning along Ravenna Trail. No arrests have been announced, and investigators are continuing to work with the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and the Hastings Police Department.
Investigators ask public to check cameras
Law enforcement is asking residents and nearby businesses to pull video and review security-camera footage from midnight on Feb. 1 through 9:50 a.m. on Feb. 2 for any suspicious vehicles or activity, according to FOX 9. Anyone with information can contact the Hastings Police Department at 651-480-2300 or the Washington County Sheriff’s Office at 651-439-9381. Anonymous tips can be submitted through Crime Stoppers of Minnesota or by calling 1-800-222-TIPS. Investigators stress that even small details could matter to the case.
Remembering 'Ike'
Friends and family remember Eickholt as kind, trusting and a free spirit who was often spotted around Hastings and nearby Prescott, Wis. They say he began living on his property after a house fire last summer and had become a familiar, eccentric presence around town, according to reporting and community accounts shared with KSTP. Those who knew him hope the newly released footage will reach the right person and finally bring answers in his killing.
