News

Preliminary hearing held for the Sjol case

By Scott Wagar

08/13/2013

A preliminary hearing for Ryan Lee Stensaker, 33, concerning the murder of Williston resident, Jack Sjol, 58, took place on Aug. 5 and granted some insight to those responsible for Sjol’s death, which, if anything brought more confusion and questions to the friends and family of Sjol.

Diane Sjol, who is the sister-in-law to Jack Sjol, and the director of Dakota College at Bottineau’s nursing program, attending the court hearing and stated that it appears that Stensaker was paid to conduct a hit on her brother-in-law from an outlawed motorcycle gang.

“The allegation is that the Sons of Silence put out a hit on Jack,” Diane Sjol said. “The detective stated there was no motive for the murder. I don’t know why the SOS would put out a hit on Jack.”

Stensaker, who has been charged with Sjol’s murder, along with additional felonies which included possession of a firearm and drug paraphernalia, was represented by attorney Steven Mottinger and Nathan Kirke Madden of the Willams County State’s Attorney Office.

During the hearing, Det. Sgt. Amanda McNamee of the Williams County Sheriff’s Office gave evidence to show that there is enough information to take Stensaker’s case to trial, which was presided over by Judge David Nelson.

After Sjol went missing on or around April 25, Williston law enforcement was called in and began an investigation. The investigators started their search for Sjol on his ranch outside of Williston were they discovered two pools of blood, body tissue, teeth, three ammo casings and a pair of sunglasses. Forensics found the blood, tissue and teeth to be Sjol’s.

Other evidence showed that tire tracks were left behind on Sjol’s property which showed investigators that a vehicle backed up to the evidence on the ground and it appeared a body was loaded into the back of the vehicle. The tire tracks match a gold colored Cadillac Escalade which is owned by Stensaker.

Furthermore, on April 30, Stensaker called for the fire department after reporting his car was on fire. Law enforcement investigating the fire came to the conclusion that the fire was started on a seat around the driver’s side. Luckily for investigators, the fire department was able to get the fire out before the tires were burned or damaged.

Other information provided to Nelson showed that Sjol’s body was found in a private dump ground owned by Issac and Teresa Steen who are brother and sister. Through a private tip given to law enforcement, local authorities found Sjol’s body in the Steens’ dump ground with bullet wounds to his head, face and upper arm, along with damage to his lungs and trachea.

Tire tracks were also found at the scene which came from Stensaker’s Escalade.

Issac Steen told investigators that Stensaker came to him and requested to use his dump, which Steen gave Stensaker’s permission to do so. Evidence also shows that Stensaker and the Steens were friends and that Stensaker had confided with Issac and Teresa that he and two other guys (Jerry Weyrauch and Ronal Gibbons who have been arrested in the Sjol case on conspiracy to commit murder) were hired by the Sons of Silence to murder Sjol. When asked why the Steens didn’t investigate to see what Stensaker had placed in their dump, the Steens said they were scared to do so.

The most interesting evidence presented to the court was the weapon that was used to kill Sjol, came from a Savage .300 Magnum bolt action rifle. A Savage .300 Magnum rifle was found in the home of Stensaker’s mother under a mattress in the room he slept in. The evidence showed, too, that Stensaker slept at his mother’s house often and that no one else slept in the room but him.

Mottinger argued in the court case that the one bullet found in Sjol’s body could not be confirmed to come from Stensaker’s rifle. When McNamee was questioned if forensic testing was still ongoing she stated that she wasn’t certain.

However, McNamee did state that extractor marks on the rim of the casing matched the rifle casing that was found at the scene of the crime and in Stensaker’s bedroom.

Stensaker pleaded not guilty to the Class AA murder on conspiracy to commit murder and possession of a firearm during the preliminary hearing. However, Nelson advised for a 12 person jury trial on all of Stensaker’s charges with the exception of the posession of drug paraphernalia due to pending lab results.

“They changed his charge from murder to conspiracy to commit murder like the charge for Weyrauch and Gibbons,” Diane Sjol said. “It was difficult to see Stensaker walk into the court room. He turned and glanced at us and others sitting behind him. When I heard the evidence, which I had heard before, I fought back tears. It was just different hearing it in a court room with him sitting there. I wondered what he was thinking. He appeared bored and kept yawning. We were fortunate that my sister Cheryl and her husband George came with us to the hearing.  Jack’s kids were there, his girlfriend, Scott’s kids and many of Jack’s friends.  The entire back area, which seats for about 40 people, was full.

“There were some questions that the defense attorney asked about evidence that the detective couldn’t answer and that surprised us,” Diane said. “I know they only presented enough to determine probable cause so that they could make the charge stick. I think it will be a pretty tough thing to go through. We are lucky to have the support of friends, family and even people we don’t know.”

To date, Stensaker, Weyrauch and Gibbons have been charged with the murder of Sjol; Issac Steen and Amber Jensen have been arrested for hindering law enforcement agents in their investigation of Sjol’s death, while Teresa Steen has been arrested for facilitation of Sjol’s death.