In the quiet community of Cloquet, Minnesota, the life of 36-year-old John F. Korby, a male resident, was violently cut short on December 23, 2016. A father of six, Korby was known as a loving parent and a jokester who enjoyed beading, playing softball, and participating in pool tournaments. He was employed at the Black Bear Casino and also took on various construction jobs.
The festive season was shattered when Korby was fatally shot at a residence on the Fond du Lac Reservation.
The tragic event unfolded when Korby, accompanied by two other individuals, arrived at a home in the 1700 block of Wolf Ridge Road. Inside the residence, an altercation led to a horrific outcome. Wayne J. Bosto, a 34-year-old man with a long and violent criminal history, shot Korby five times. The assault was punctuated by a final, fatal shot to the head as Korby lay prone on the floor, a brutal act witnessed by at least one other person in the house.
Law enforcement was quick to respond, and Bosto was apprehended shortly after the shooting as he walked down a road not far from his home. The motive for this senseless act of violence was never publicly disclosed by either the authorities or the perpetrator. Bosto's criminal record, which spanned his entire adult life, included convictions for assault, robbery, drunken driving, drug possession, and disorderly conduct.
In August 2017, Wayne J. Bosto pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in Carlton County District Court. As a result of a plea agreement, he was sentenced to nearly 36 years in prison. Under the terms of his sentence, Bosto is expected to serve over 23 years in prison, with the remainder of the term to be completed under supervised release. The community was left to mourn the loss of John F. Korby, a man remembered for his love for his children and his lighthearted nature, whose life was extinguished in a moment of extreme violence.
