Grand Forks, ND (trfnews.i234.me)—More than four years after a warrant was issued for Vincent Chase Villarreal in connection with the murder of his father, he is expected to be extradited to Grand Forks County to face trial after serving time in Minnesota prison.
Case Background: The 2020 Murder of Jeffrey Allen Shulzitski
Date of Crime: December 5, 2020 Victim: Jeffrey Allen Shulzitski, 55 Location: Grand Forks hotel room Cause of Death: Gunshot wound
Initial Investigation:
- A person of interest was cleared early in the case.
- Surveillance footage identified Villarreal leaving the hotel.
- He evaded law enforcement for weeks before being arrested on December 30, 2020, at a Crookston, MN trailer park on a separate warrant.
Villarreal’s Legal History & Prison Sentence
Prior Conviction: 2011 criminal sexual conduct case December 2020 Arrest: Also charged with drug possession May 2022 Sentencing: 19-month sentence for drug charges Additional Convictions: Two assault charges while in custody, adding 181 days to his sentence Extended Stay in Prison: Likely due to violations of conditional release in his criminal sexual conduct case
Extradition & Upcoming Murder Trial
Anticipated Release from Minnesota Prison: February 13, 2025 Extradition to Grand Forks County: Pending coordination with local authorities
Charge: Class AA felony murder with extreme indifference Possible Sentence: Life in prison without parole
Grand Forks County State’s Attorney Haley Wamstad confirmed that Villarreal has waived his right to an extradition hearing, expediting his transfer to Grand Forks County.
Wamstad on Next Steps:
- “Once he is available to us, they would coordinate with our sheriff’s department to have him picked up.”
- No court hearings will be scheduled until Villarreal is in local custody.
Why the Delay in His Murder Case?
Several legal factors contribute to delays in cases where the defendant is incarcerated in another state:
- Interstate jurisdiction rules under the Uniform Mandatory Disposition of Detainers Act
- Defendant’s choice to delay trial while serving time in another jurisdiction
- Negotiations between Minnesota & North Dakota authorities
What Happens Next?
Once Villarreal is transferred to Grand Forks County Jail, he will be formally arraigned, and a court schedule will be set. A preliminary hearing will determine if there is enough evidence to proceed to trial.
Stay tuned for more updates on this case.
I’m Chris Harper, reporting for trfnews.i234.me