On a summer day in rural North Dakota, a violent encounter cut short the life of 43-year-old Brian Rowe, a White male from Watford City. On July 25, 2021, Rowe was driving his pickup truck near Killdeer in Dunn County when an argument broke out between him and one of his passengers, 28-year-old Carlos Mendivil-Beltran of Mesa, Arizona. A 28-year-old woman from Wisconsin was also in the vehicle at the time.
The dispute escalated dramatically when Mendivil-Beltran shot Rowe multiple times.
Following the shooting, Rowe was pushed out of his own truck and left on the road. Mendivil-Beltran then fled in Rowe's pickup, which he later crashed into a ravine and abandoned. The nature of the relationship between the three individuals and the specific subject of their fatal argument have not been publicly detailed.
The investigation quickly led law enforcement to the two suspects. Two days later, police in Moorhead, Minnesota, apprehended both Mendivil-Beltran and his female companion. During the search, Mendivil-Beltran had also been identified by the name Oscar Ortiz. He was subsequently charged with murder, felony theft, and theft conspiracy. The woman was charged with theft conspiracy and hindering law enforcement.
Ultimately, Carlos Mendivil-Beltran was held responsible for Brian Rowe's death. In August 2022, he was sentenced to prison for the murder.
