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   According to the Cass County Sheriff’s Office 22-year-old Mikayla Butcher of Bemidji died in a crash Saturday, March 15 after the vehicle she was riding in rolled over on Co. Hwy. 13 (Onigum Rd.) The driver, identified as 23-year-old Pernell Reese, of Walker has been arrested and booked into the Cass County Detention Center on probation violation charges with formal charges relating to the crash pending.

   Additional occupants of the vehicle were; Justin Nordmarken, age 27, of Walker, MN;  Jonathan Peterson, age 29, of Longville, MN; and Arrecio Brown, age 21, of Walker, MN.

   Sheriff Bryan Welk reported that at 7:01 p.m. on Saturday March 15th, 2025, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office received 911 calls of motor vehicle roll-over on County Road 13 near the intersection with the Stony Point Camp Rd, in Turtle Lake Township, rural Walker, MN. 

   Responders found a 2007 Dodge Nitro had left the roadway rolling over in the ditch. Five occupants were in the vehicle at the time of the crash. Two men were transported to Bemidji Sanford for medical treatment. One man was transported to St. Joseph’s Hospital in Park Rapids for additional treatment. One man was treated on scene and released. Butcher was pronounced deceased on scene. An autopsy is scheduled with the Ramsey County Medical Examiner’s Office.  

   A search warrant for a blood sample from the suspected driver of the vehicle was executed at the Sanford Bemidji Hospital. Alcohol and speed appear to be factors in the crash. Criminal charges will be pending upon analysis of the sample received. The crash remains under investigation. 

   The Walker Police Department, Minnesota State Patrol, Walker Fire Department, and North Memorial Ambulance assisted at the scene.

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