Dennis Wayne Stokes

On the morning of October 30, 1993, Dennis Wayne Stokes, a 46-year-old executive for the 3M company, was supposed to go on a hunting trip. When he failed to show up, his friends grew concerned and asked authorities to check on him at his home in Columbus, Minnesota. What deputies from the Anoka County Sheriff’s Office discovered that day began a mystery that has now spanned more than three decades. The front door of the home was slightly ajar, and inside, Stokes's hunting gear was neatly placed by the entrance, as if he were ready to walk out. But he never would.

Deputies found Dennis, a white male, deceased in his own bed. He had been shot twice in the head at close range with a shotgun. The scene was quiet and orderly, showing no signs of a forced entry or a struggle. While it was initially staged to look like a burglary, investigators quickly determined that nothing of value had been stolen from the residence. The evidence suggested a killer who was familiar with Dennis's home and daily routine, someone who knew how to enter without causing a disturbance and leave without a trace.

The investigation into the homicide was complicated from the start. On the night of the murder, a loud party with a live band was happening at a neighboring property. Detectives believe the noise from the celebration may have been used by the killer to mask the sound of the fatal gunshots, a deliberate choice that pointed toward a planned execution rather than a random act of violence. The perpetrator seemed to know exactly when and how to strike.

In the initial stages of the investigation, suspicion fell upon Dennis's widow, Terri Stokes. Investigators looked into reports of marital problems, alleged affairs, and financial issues as possible motives. However, no charges were ever filed against her due to a lack of sufficient evidence. In 1994, a WCCO television story and a subsequent broadcast by the nationally syndicated news show "American Journal" implied Terri Stokes was involved in her husband's death. In 1996, she filed a defamation lawsuit against CBS, the show's producer, and Anoka County officials. A jury in 1999 found the statements made in the broadcasts to be "defamatory and false," but ruled there was no "actual malice," and therefore awarded no damages. Terri Stokes eventually left the area to start a new life.

Over the years, the case grew cold, but it was never closed. No arrests have ever been made, and the person who killed Dennis Stokes has never been brought to justice. The Anoka County Sheriff's Office has kept the case open, and it is now under the purview of its Cold Case Homicide Unit, filed under case number 93-188838. Investigators have periodically renewed public appeals for information, especially around the anniversary of the murder, hoping that someone, somewhere, holds the key to unlocking the truth.

As of February 2026, the murder of Dennis Wayne Stokes remains an active and unsolved investigation. The Anoka County Sheriff’s Office continues to believe that new information or witnesses finally coming forward could provide the breakthrough needed to deliver justice for Dennis and his family. The department maintains a webpage dedicated to its cold cases, a stark reminder of lives cut short and questions left unanswered. Anyone with information, no matter how insignificant it may seem, is urged to contact the cold case unit. Tips can be submitted anonymously via email to [email protected].