by Minneapolis, Minnesota — A 37-year-old Minnesota man will spend decades behind bars after pleading guilty to killing a neighbor and kidnapping his pregnant girlfriend and her four children in a violent chain of events that unfolded in November 2024.
Chad Aanerud was sentenced Tuesday to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 30 years following his guilty plea to first-degree murder, kidnapping, two counts of second-degree assault, and burglary.
The charges stem from an incident that left 62-year-old Lyle Maske dead in his driveway.
Fatal Confrontation in Driveway
According to court documents, officers responded just before 2 a.m. on Nov. 1, 2024, to reports of a shooting at Maske’s home.
When authorities arrived, they found Lyle Maske deceased from a gunshot wound in the driveway.
Investigators later said Aanerud admitted to confronting Maske and shooting him following a dispute, telling police the neighbor had “stuck his nose” where it didn’t belong.
Girlfriend Sought Help Before Shooting
Court records state that on the night of Oct. 31, 2024, Aanerud’s pregnant girlfriend told her four children to run next door to the Maskes’ home after she reported being assaulted.
The children alerted the neighbor’s household that Aanerud was causing trouble. Maske reportedly decided to go next door to see what was happening but chose not to bring his rifle, believing it could escalate the situation.
Shortly afterward, the confrontation turned deadly.
Armed Return and Kidnapping
Roughly 10 minutes after Maske left his home, Aanerud appeared at the Maskes’ door armed with a rifle and demanded that the women inside return what he referred to as “his kids.”
Authorities said he fired the weapon inside the residence before forcing the children out of the house and into a white van. His girlfriend was already seated in the vehicle.
A woman inside the Maskes’ home later found Maske lying on the ground, covered in blood, and called 911.
Home Set on Fire
When officers responded, they also discovered that the house where Aanerud’s girlfriend and the children had been living was engulfed in flames.
An Amber Alert was quickly issued for the four children. Police located the van several hours later and safely recovered the children.
Authorities said the girlfriend had visible injuries to her face, neck, and chest at the time of the rescue. The children were reported unharmed.
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Investigators also noted that Aanerud smelled strongly of gasoline or another flammable substance when he was arrested. According to court filings, the girlfriend told police she saw him dumping fuel on the house before leaving the scene.
Plea Agreement and Sentencing
Aanerud ultimately pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and multiple other charges.
As part of the plea agreement, more than a dozen additional charges were dismissed, including second-degree murder, criminal sexual conduct, multiple kidnapping counts and an arson charge.
On Tuesday, the court imposed a sentence of life in prison with eligibility for parole after 30 years. The case has drawn significant attention in Minnesota due to the severity of the violence and the involvement of children.
What are your thoughts on how early intervention in domestic violence situations might prevent tragedies like this? Share your perspective in the comments below.
