Documents: Dead woman may have had hand in girl’s kidnapping

Published 6:09 am Friday, September 2, 2016

BEMIDJI— A Bemidji woman whose body was found in her burned mobile home may have helped kidnap a 5-year-old girl who disappeared from the home but later was found, according to search warrant affidavits.

According to the filings in Beltrami County court, kidnapping suspect Jacob Kinn, 33, who was on probation for a 2013 child pornography conviction, and Melissa Norby, who had babysat the girl, had discussed scenarios to abduct the girl so they could sexually assault her.

Under one scenario, an affidavit said, Norby would report to law enforcement that she was assaulted by someone she didn’t know, which led to the girl being abducted.

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The girl was found alive in a camper in the northern Minnesota woods. Kinn, a food truck operator who had a relationship with Norby, is charged with felony kidnapping.

Affidavits say the June fire at Norby’s mobile home was intentionally set. Documents also show her body, hands bound, was found in the debris.

Kinn is still jailed and due back in court Sept. 16.

Kristine Kolar, chief public defender for the state’s 9th Judicial District, said Thursday she had no comment.