Lori Roberts, a 49-year-old Caucasian woman, was found dead in her Doran, Minnesota, home on October 2, 2009. An autopsy later revealed she had been shot twice, with gunshot wounds to her neck and chest determined to be the cause of death. A mother of three daughters, Roberts was an employee at Primewood in Wahpeton, North Dakota, where she worked as a senior machine operator.
She was known for her love of the outdoors, motorcycle riding, and hosting holiday gatherings for family and friends.
The investigation into her death soon focused on her former boyfriend, Jeffrey Allen Silvernail, who was 44 years old at the time. Silvernail and Roberts had been in a relationship since 2005 or 2006, and he was reportedly in the process of moving out of her home after their recent breakup. He was the one who placed the 911 call after discovering her body. Authorities considered him the only suspect in her killing.
Evidence gathered by investigators included a small spot of blood on the pants Silvernail was wearing on the day of the murder, which was later confirmed to be Lori Roberts' blood. This incriminating evidence, along with other details of the investigation, led to his arrest on May 24, 2010. He was charged with second-degree intentional murder.
During his trial, which began in September 2011, further details emerged. A fellow inmate testified that Silvernail had confessed to the murder while they were in the Wilkin County Jail together. According to the inmate, Silvernail admitted to killing Roberts after an argument and then attempting to stage the scene to look like a burglary. On October 6, 2011, a jury found Jeffrey Silvernail guilty of first-degree murder. He was subsequently sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
