On January 6, 2019, the body of a White male, 33-year-old Joshua Robert Lavalley of Aurora, Minnesota, was discovered by snowmobilers on the Mesabi Trail in Hibbing. An investigation quickly determined that Lavalley had been the victim of a homicide, having been shot twice in the face. The circumstances of his death pointed to a calculated and brutal act, as it was revealed he had been blindfolded before being led into the woods to be killed.
The investigation into Lavalley's murder led authorities to three suspects from Hibbing: 18-year-old Deshon Israel Bonnell, 20-year-old Anthony Emerson Howson, and a 17-year-old female, Bailey French. Arrests were made swiftly in the days following the discovery of Lavalley's body. The motive for the killing appeared to stem from allegations that Lavalley had made unwanted sexual contact with French, who was Bonnell's girlfriend. This alleged incident reportedly angered Bonnell and the others, leading to the deadly confrontation.
According to court proceedings, Bonnell and French led a blindfolded Lavalley into the woods off the Mesabi Trail while Howson remained in a vehicle. It was there that Bonnell shot Lavalley. In the ensuing legal process, all three individuals faced serious charges, including murder, kidnapping, and robbery. Deshon Bonnell was ultimately sentenced to life in prison for his role as the shooter. Anthony Howson received a 25-year prison sentence for his involvement. Bailey French, despite being a juvenile at the time of the crime, was tried as an adult and sentenced to 37 years in prison.
