INQUISITR.COM / News & Politics

Kenzley Ava-LeAnn Olson Murdered: Janelle Red Dog Arrested, Suspected Of Beating 1-Year-Old To Death And Throwing Her Body Into Dumpster

By Nathan Francis
Published on: 07:25 PST, Apr 22, 2016

Kenzley Ava-LeAnn Olson was found dead this week, and police say that Janelle Red Dog is suspected of beating the 1-year-old girl to death before throwing her body into a dumpster.

Olson had gone missing on Tuesday from her home in Poplar, Montana, prompting authorities to issue an Amber Alert for residents in Montana and North Dakota. Just hours after the alert went out, authorities found the body of the missing girl not far from her home.

Police investigator Ken Trottier said 42-year-old Janelle Red Dog confessed to punching Olson several times, killing the girl. Red Dog then stuffed Olson’s body into a duffel bag and threw it into a dumpster, police claim.

Janelle Red Dog appeared on Friday in Fort Peck Tribal Court for the murder of Kenzley Ava-LeAnn Olson. Authorities said she has not yet been charged with a crime, but is being held without bond until an arraignment hearing scheduled for next Tuesday.

Authorities did not yet disclose the relationship between Red Dog and Olson, but they noted it was Red Dog who first reported the girl missing to law enforcement.

The search for Kenzley Ava-LeAnn Olson quickly gained national interest this week, with the Nancy Grace show sharing news of her disappearance on Twitter. Many more people shared information about Olson in the hope that it might help find her.

The search also drew the attention of residents across Montana and North Dakota, who received a series of Amber Alerts regarding the disappearance and search for Kenzley Ava-LeAnn Olson, with the first alert being sent Wednesday at close to 2 a.m.

But the search only lasted a matter of hours, and the Roosevelt County Sheriff’s Office announced on Facebook that the girl’s body had been found and a suspect arrested. The Great Falls Tribune reported that police had sealed off several blocks in Poplar and closed the eastbound lane of U.S. Highway 2 for the search.

Police had initially asked the public to search for Melinda Tweet or Timothy Dornheim, who had last been seen with Kenzley. But police were able to apprehend the couple and determined that they played no role in Kenzley’s disappearance.

“The person arrested in connection to the death of Kenzley Olson is neither Melinda Tweet nor Timothy Dornheim,” police announced. “Both Tweet and Dornheim have been cleared of any involvement in this incident.”

This was the second kidnapping on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation in as many months. In February, 4-year-old Maci Lilley was abducted from a playground in Wolf Point and discovered alive hours later. Police arrested 20-year-old John “Billy” Lieba II and have charged him with felony kidnapping, aggravated sexual assault of a child, and attempted murder. Lieba is currently being held in jail without bond.

Many community members turned out to help search for Lilley, with some fearing the worst.

“I think that we all had in the back of our minds thinking the worst, but this is the best possible thing that could have happened,” said Lee Allmer, public information officer for Roosevelt County (via Missoulian).

The search for Olson also brought out many community members to help. Police were also seen searching around yards and homes in the closed-off area of the town.

Police have not yet announced what charges Janelle Red Dog for the alleged murder of Kenzley Ava-LeAnn Olson.

[Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images]

Share this article: Kenzley Ava-LeAnn Olson Murdered: Janelle Red Dog Arrested, Suspected Of Beating 1-Year-Old To Death And Throwing Her Body Into Dumpster
More from Inquisitr