[fullwidth background_color=”” background_image=”” background_parallax=”none” enable_mobile=”no” parallax_speed=”0.3″ background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” video_url=”” video_aspect_ratio=”16:9″ video_webm=”” video_mp4=”” video_ogv=”” video_preview_image=”” overlay_color=”” overlay_opacity=”0.5″ video_mute=”yes” video_loop=”yes” fade=”no” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding_top=”20″ padding_bottom=”20″ padding_left=”0″ padding_right=”0″ hundred_percent=”no” equal_height_columns=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” menu_anchor=”” class=”” id=””][title size=”1″ content_align=”left” style_type=”underline solid” sep_color=”#000000″ margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” class=”” id=””]Nicholas McArdell of Alexandria charged with interfering with a body[/title][fusion_text]Wednesday, December 16th 2015
The Douglas County Attorney’s Office has charged an Alexandria man with interfering with the body of a missing University of Minnesota, Morris student. 18-year-old Laura Schwendemann was last seen October 14th at a gas station in Alexandria. After an extensive search, her body was discovered October 26th in a field in southeastern Douglas County. An autopsy revealed Schwendemann had both methamphetamine and THC in her system. 21-year old Nickolas McArdell told investigators he and Schwendemann had been driving around injecting meth. According to the complaint, McArdell said Schwendemann “freaked out” after he pretended police were chasing them. He said they smoked marijuana to calm down and began driving again. Once again, she “freaked out” and started breathing heavily. Shortly thereafter, he tried to get her attention, but noticed she did not have a pulse and was not breathing. The complaint states McArdell drove around and later removed Schwendemann’s body from his car. He then admitted to carrying her into a cornfield and leaving her there. Authorities say McArdell also admitted to calling several people the next morning asking if they’d seen Schwendemann. He added he hid the meth needles and pot pipe they used in a gas station trash bin. Douglas County Attorney Chad Larson has said McArdell won’t be prosecuted for causing Schwendemann’s death, since the evidence does not support the charge. If convicted, McArdell faces up to a year in jail.
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