33 year old Arnold Ottinius Borson was the City Marshal for the small city of Ghent, located in the SE Minnesota County of Lyon. He had been married less than two years and had quickly become a respected and trusted law officer in this small Belgian immigrant community.
It was the early morning hours of Monday August 18th. Arnold had been notified of a possible burglary in progress at a local service garage. Arnold and his brother-in-law responded to help the business owner check his garage when they interupted two burglars trying to break into the business safe. The two suspects jumped out the garage window and ran. In the end, both suspects would escape, even after one of them had been shot with a shotgun. Arnold was also shot, and would die from his injuries 4 days later at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester. The two suspect were never identified or apprehended, and Arnold's murder would remain unsolved forever.
Arnold's story was all but forgotten until his great nephew learned his Uncle Arnold Borson's name was not on the National Law Enforcement Memorial Wall like he assumed it was. His great grand nephew, retired Colorado Springs Sergeant Jim Stinson, helps tell Arnold's story and why it was important for him to work to finally get is great uncle recognized 73 years after his murder.
This episode is sponsored by our friends at Law Enforcement Labor Services, Inc.
WARNING: Violent content and strong language may be disturbing to some listeners. Listener discretion advised.