Pennington County, MN (trfnews.i234.me)—The Pennington County murder case involving Jorge Luis Benitez-Estremera is progressing toward trial. On Friday, December 13, a pre-trial hearing was conducted. Benitez-Estremera, 34, of Thief River Falls, is charged with the intentional killing of Steven Opdahl outside Digi-Key on May 9, 2023.
Pre-Trial Hearing Discussions
During the hearing, attorneys deliberated on the possibility of bifurcating the trial into two phases. One phase would address the trial itself, while the other would assess whether Benitez-Estremera could distinguish between right and wrong at the time of the incident.
Mental Health Evaluations
Two mental health evaluations have been completed for Benitez-Estremera. The defense obtained one evaluation privately, and the state secured the other. Assistant Minnesota Attorney General John Gross, serving as co-prosecutor, indicated that the state concurs both psychological reports meet the criteria for a bifurcated trial.
Defense Motions
The defense, represented by attorneys Steve Bergeson and Eric Gudmundson from the state and local Public Defender’s Offices, is seeking a change of venue if the case proceeds to a jury trial.
Upcoming Court Appearance
Benitez-Estremera is scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday, January 28. At that time, he is expected to inform the court whether he opts for a trial before a judge or a jury.
Indictment Details
Last year, Benitez-Estremera was indicted on felony charges of first-degree murder (premeditated) and second-degree murder (intent).
Incident Overview
According to the criminal complaint, Opdahl sustained severe trauma to the left side of his head. A parking pole with a sign was found adjacent to his body. Blood was present in various areas nearby, and bloody clothing was discovered in a nearby garbage can. Opdahl was attacked during a smoke break outside his workplace. The complaint alleges that Benitez-Estremera assaulted Opdahl with the parking pole sign and punched him 17 times, predominantly targeting the head. The two men were unacquainted.
Surveillance Footage
The three-minute attack was recorded on surveillance video. The complaint notes that Opdahl did not exhibit aggression toward Benitez-Estremera. He was seen walking near Benitez-Estremera’s car, smoking a cigarette, and eventually standing in front of the vehicle. There were no witnesses. Benitez-Estremera was at the location to pick up his girlfriend, who worked at Digi-Key. He was located hours later at a Thief River Falls apartment complex.
Statements to Law Enforcement
The complaint indicates that Benitez-Estremera allegedly told his girlfriend he sensed a negative force from Opdahl. In an interview with law enforcement, he stated that Opdahl was contaminated and needed to be removed from the system.
Legal Proceedings
Benitez-Estremera’s attorneys sought to suppress statements he made in custody during the murder investigation. In August, Judge Tamara Yon determined that Benitez-Estremera had validly waived his Miranda rights.
Background Information
Court documents reveal that Benitez-Estremera is a native of Puerto Rico. He resided in Florida and Puerto Rico before relocating to Thief River Falls approximately five years ago. He was employed at Arctic Cat until December 2022.
I’m Chris Harper, reporting for trfnews.i234.me