I attach here a link to a recent article on this case featured on UM on Lifetime yesterday. I remember seeing the case some time ago and it making a strong impression because of the competing views of the investigation by the sheriff and the highway patrol officer.

I am glad to see that renewed attention will be given to the case, in light of the fact that it is nearly twenty years old at this point:

http://www.ndgop.org/gop_news/news_detail.asp?ID=783

Wasn't this case on yesterday? Such a strange story. Thanks for the link!

I saw it again yesterday, and was struck by how uncharacteristic it was for UM to not give any theories about motives, if indeed it was murder. Which it now seems to have been determined it was. Not much about her life, family etc.

I saw it again yesterday, and was struck by how uncharacteristic it was for UM to not give any theories about motives, if indeed it was murder. Which it now seems to have been determined it was. Not much about her life, family etc.

Uncharacteristic? It would seem that way. But one must wonder if the cops had theories that they didn't reveal the general public. Maybe they have secretly suspected someone, but lacked anything in the way of evidence to reveal names.

Indeed, there doesn't appear to be too much about her life or family. Perhaps both were so non-controversial that efforts to establish any believable theories as to why she was murdered have been unsuccessful.

However, we should be thankful that the case is being reviewed. And if the case is eventually solved, then that's all that will matter.

Hey Seminolegirl I sent you a pm but wow!! That is some update about the husband committing suicide. You mentioned dna, can you elaborate where some was found? Did they find some blood at her house that led them to believe she was murdered and the accident scene staged?

Damn, yo.....

(This is generally what I say when I am speechless.)

I found info that the husband died on February 22 at age 53, but nothing beyond that. I'm sure it was a suicide but the obituaries didn't mention that.

"IF" the police had found blood in a shed on the Bonderson property don't you think that Rob would have been arrested? Did they prove the blood was Kathy's and not from some animal or from an accident where someone cut themselves? Funny that the investigators stated in the paper that there was no DNA evidence yet you, Seminolegirl have a "most likely good source" that says otherwise. That Rob "actually" murdered her in a shed???? You know this because of some reliable source or were you "actually" there when it happened. You seem to be the resident expert on this. How would you feel if this was your family and had people assuming everything and anything because they heard a rumor? How sad a life you must have to attach yourself to this case the way you seem to have. Unless you were there and witnessed anything, you shouldn't assume anything just because of a rumor. People always want to believe the worst, no matter who gets hurt in the process. There were other people that were suspects but nothing was ever followed through on. What a shame that it wasn't properly investigated.

curiousgram I take it you're a friend or family member of Mr. Bonderson's - is that correct? Its always nice to hear both sides of the story. Do you have any theories on Kathy's death? Do you think she was murdered? From watching the UM segment I don't think any of us ever knew her husband was a suspect and from your comments I gather he was since you said he had been hounded by police for 20 years. Any further info you can share with us would be appreciated so we can hear his side as well.

Yes, I am a friend of Rob & Nan Bonderson's. We have known them for over 11 years. I would consider them to be the closest friends we have or in Rob's case, had. He & my husband were very close. There is no way that Rob could have ever hurt anyone. If, indeed Kathy was murdered, it could have been a drug dealer that her son Jamie was involved with back then. What drug dealer wants someone's mother causing problems???? From the UM segment, "NONE" of her family was on the show, not her husband, her parents, her siblings or her children so why does that make Rob any more guilty than anyone else. I never said he was hounded by the police for 20 years. There were other people that were doing things to he & Nan over the years. Sick things that only a member of the family would have access too.
People have said there was DNA. Well, where is it, who found it and why weren't the investigators aware of it? I have been accused of blaming Jamie. I never blamed Jamie. Just the things he was doing at the time need to be looked at. That is why Kathy was out that night, she was looking for him and so concerned because he had been involved with drugs. Since they closed this case so quickly, no one will ever really know what happened to Kathy or why. They can only assume. Blaming Rob isn't going to make it true. There are people who will swear that he did it but there are others of us that knew him that know there is no way he would ever hurt anyone. I agree with one thing that has been said, Justice wasn't done. Not because Rob took his own life but because this case hasn't been solved and isn't likely to be since the "investigators" have closed the case. I feel the investigators made a show of working on it but closed it so quickly to make themselves look good and so others would think that they had really done their job. We would all really like to know who the guilty party is. But it was not Rob!

The Cold Case Investigators need to be thanked for all the hard work they have done to get information on these cases. I am a family member of Kathys. I was just a little girl when she passed away, but what happened to her still effects me today. Kathy was a great person I only wish she was here today. I would like to thank you, investigators for you time and devotion in Kathys case. You have provided many answers that were long awaited. I wish, we could of had these answers prior so Rob could of sat behind bars for the rest of his life. Of course like he always did, he took the "easy" way out. Thank You

Im sorry but Jamie lived with my family after Kathy died. There is no way that he could of done anything to hurt his mother. Also Kathy did not have any smoke in her lungs therfore she was dead before her car burt, she was in the passenger side of the car on the floor and the gas used to burn the car was not the same gas inside the car, also the gas can was found in the field next to the gravel road, Also there is a eye witness that said they dropped ROB of at his house the night of the accident. Why did Rob take the easy way out.. Why did he leave Jamie and Jason on their own. why why why.. we will never know.. WHY because he took the easy way out....he could not stand to take pain of knowing what he did to kathy.

http://www.kxmc.com/getArticle.asp?ArticleId=18653

Based on the UM segment, I don't see how Kathy's husband could be a suspect. They had an argument prior to Kathy leaving to go look for her son and then she left. I believe this could be a random attack but alot of things don't make sense. Why was she in the passenger side? Why were the keys not melted? If you're gonna kill someone and make it look like an accident, wouldn't you leave the victim in the driver seat? The only way I can see Kathy's husband possibly involved is if he also went looking for their son. They could have been in the car together, kept arguing, the argument became violent and her husband hit her. Realising what he had done, he probably covered it up to make it look like an accident. But that doesn't explain the second set of tyre marks. Hmmm.

They solved this case a few months ago, dude. He did it.

They solved this case a few months ago, dude. He did it.

Oh OK then.

Well Robby knows he did it. Or at least he probably did it, as nothing is for certain. Might he rest in peace, however had he just owned up to what he did now he probably would have got a manslaughter charge just to clear the case despite the fact he killed his wife, covered her with gasoline and then set their car on fire.....

I've just learned that Ed Allmaras, sheriff of Eddy County (I'm pretty sure he was interviewed in the segment) has since passed away.

I used to hang around Jamie when he was a teen, when his mom was alive and when she died. He may have changed after his mom died, but he was not into drugs when I knew him. From the time right after Kathy died, everybody suspected Rob. And besides Jamie saw his mom early in the night, well before midnight. He was with people all night. Rob wasn't.

Well, after reading what all happened, it is my opinion that Rob Bonderson probably murdered his wife and then staged it to look like a car accident. It is easier for me to say, but it just seems like this was such an easy one to see it was an accident. However what I had overlooked was that initially an autopsy wasnt even performed, it wasnt until the body was exhumed that an autopsy was performed, at least according to the segment.

It just seemed that the sheriff was determined to have this labeled an accident and nothing else, I dont know if he was pals with Rob Bonderson or what or just didnt want to conduct a thorough investigation, but I am sure Rob Bonderson thought he could fool these small town cops and it looks like he succeeded.

However, from the beginning, the cop from the North Dakota state highway patrol, thought it was a homicide so him and the sheriff were at odds.

It just seemed that the sheriff was determined to have this labeled an accident and nothing else, I dont know if he was pals with Rob Bonderson or what or just didnt want to conduct a thorough investigation, but I am sure Rob Bonderson thought he could fool these small town cops and it looks like he succeeded.

However, from the beginning, the cop from the North Dakota state highway patrol, thought it was a homicide so him and the sheriff were at odds.

Funny, isn't it? It's like the state patrol trooper is looking at it objectively but like you said, the sherrif has an agenda. I'm not saying he does, but I totally get your opinion on that. It is really odd.

I often wonder on some of these cases in small towns or small jourisdictions. Are the cops protecting friends or are they just out of their league? If you rarely if ever have a murder, it only stands to reason you won't be a good murder investigator. That's not a shot at the cops, just the truth that if you don't practice you won't get good.

Just weird how many times it seems like the local sherrif goes out of his way to make the case just go away, or does something weird like destroy crucial evidence (i.e. Eric Tomiyasu murder).

Makes you wonder...:confused:

Well, it is probably a combination of both, obviously it is hard to bust people you know and work for and have to see regularly. Small town "justice" at its finest. Small towns just are notorious for the blunders and the cover ups and the bungles of cases, it is quite astounding.

As a kinda-sorta defense attorney in a small town... I say "HEY!"

Justice can be served in small towns. Not ALL police departments are corrupt. Blunders and cover-ups happen in big cities as well. Come on, now! :)

As a kinda-sorta defense attorney in a small town... I say "HEY!"

Justice can be served in small towns. Not ALL police departments are corrupt. Blunders and cover-ups happen in big cities as well. Come on, now! :)


Whadaya mean "kinda sorta"...? Is that like being a "little big pregnant"??? Are you or aren't you? :p :lol:

I didn't mean to say all small towns are inept or cover-up. I do think they have a tougher time with weird cases, especially murders, just due to lack of practice. (Which really isn't a bad thing -- low murder rate = good!)

This case, though, stinks to high heaven...

I think big cities have more overt cover-ups. More crooked people. I think cases like this one are more about lack of experience and personal friendships. Maybe I'm splitting hairs here but there could be a difference between direct cover-up and not wanting to push to hard after a friend.

Or am I crazy??? :crazy:

It's great to have an update on this. Rob could have made up any story after the fact and didn't seem to be presented as a suspect. Any word on possible motive?

Joshy,

November 10, 1991
***law enforcement's use of psychics to help with cases like that of Sherry Eyerly; Update: William Scott Smith confessed in jail to Sherry Eyerly's kidnap and murder
***Unexplained Death: Kathy Bonderson of New Rockford, North Dakota, went out one night in 1987 to look for her teenage son who had not come home yet. Bonderson's car was later found engulfed in flames on a lonely county road, her charred body was found inside. Some authorities believe her death was an accident, others believe she may have been murdered.
***Maryland amnesia victim Sarah Digennaro who lost 16 years of her memory after having brain surgery to fix an aneurysm.

Decades-Old Murder Case Solved
http://www.kxmc.com/t/wayne-stenehjem/18653.asp

Here is the official news release from the Cold Case Investigations Team that solved the case in 2006.

http://www.ag.state.nd.us/newsreleases/2006/06-27-06.pdf

Shame it took so long to be solved. Robert was a coward.

Shame it took so long to be solved. Robert was a coward.


Add him to the list of husbands who took their knowledge of what happened to their wife to the grave(Steven Marfeo and Robert Page)

Add him to the list of husbands who took their knowledge of what happened to their wife to the grave(Steven Marfeo and Robert Page)

So many yes, may they burn in hell.

Just watched it again and realized they didn't mention Robert's name or even him at all apart from the opening part when he and Kathy had their confrontation. He wasn't present for an interview or even mentioned by Stack at all apart from the above. Possibly a case of UM hiding information for a witness to bring up instead?

Has this case been shown on Farina's Unsolved Mysteries?

Has this case been shown on Farina's Unsolved Mysteries?

I looked around the internet for a few minutes but couldn't find any info on that.

Everything I found shows clips or pics of the case with the lifetime logo. The episode guides and similar things only reference the stack version. I didn't do an exhaustive search tho, I just looked at about 6 or 7 sources.

Hi, I am rewatching my Unsolved Mysteries collection one case at a time and trying to look through the Unsolved Mysteries wikia to find out if there are any new updates to each featured segment.

I've just watched the part on Kathy Bonderson, after a brief search through the wikia and reading the link Avante put up, i'm surprised to find out that Kathy's murder has been 'solved'. The police 'concluded' Kathy's killer was her husband Robert.

But several 'DISTURBING' questions (i love to quote from Um) comes into mind, so i like to post them here:

1) How did the police arrive at the conclusion that Robert was the killer?

The article Avante posted mentioned that he vanished without appearing for his scheduled interview with the police, not taking his bank cards and killing himself in a shed on the mountains.

These factors, though quite suspicious, doesnt seem to really incriminate definitively that Robert was his wife's murderer.

Also, one may argue that Robert committed suicide out of guilt, but it could also be that he has a lot of other problems we dont know of.




2) How did Robert kill his wife before setting up her car on fire, and why?

It does sound very strange from the article that it was actually Robert's car that was tailing Kathy's before she met with her accident.

Their son was driving back home at the opposite direction. Why cant he recognize the car at the back since it belonged to his dad?

And why did Kathy or Robert not recognize their son and stopped, since they were out to look for him in the 1st place?




3) If the police are able to point their finger at Robert now for being his wife's killer, why werent they able to do so for the past 20 years?

Did the authorities thoroughly interview and screen through every possible suspect?

Does that speak of incompetence on the police's part? Particularly the retired sheriff who got interviewed in the segment?



The sources that reported this case left out too much vital information for anyone to know for sure what really transpired on this case for the past 20 years.

If you have any information on the murder of Kathy Bonderson, or on Kathy's husband Robert, please put up more links, or write to us, at this forum below.

I saw it again yesterday, and was struck by how uncharacteristic it was for UM to not give any theories about motives, if indeed it was murder. Which it now seems to have been determined it was. Not much about her life, family etc.

Yes, UM was surprisingly vague on this segment.

And why did Kathy or Robert not recognize their son and stopped, since they were out to look for him in the 1st place?

Yes! This is something that always baffled me about this case.

Here is an article from 6 years ago about Kathy Bonderson's death: http://bismarcktribune.com/news/state-and-regional/widow-says-husband-not-killer/article_27af1b3b-ba97-53f9-914d-d1da8065fcee.html

Her husband's second wife, his brother and Kathy's sister-in-law don't think Robert killed Kathy but the story in the link I just posted gives more insight to a potential motive.

Kathy was dead before the fire started..traces of gasoline on her clothing..fire started in different places inside the vehicle..husband has no alibi and indeed if he's following her in the car can be placed at the scene of the crime..suicide note exculpating himself shows a guilty conscience(it's always the quiet ones who snap).

Alright so, what was the deal? Why did he kill Kathy? UM doesn't touch on this and I am sorry if I missed it. They paint is as two parents looking for their son and don't mention anything else about their marriage.

Alright so, what was the deal? Why did he kill Kathy? UM doesn't touch on this and I am sorry if I missed it. They paint is as two parents looking for their son and don't mention anything else about their marriage.
If you read the link 1990 UM fan posted above, it said he took out a life insurance policy and there were rumors he was seeing his soon-to-be second wife while married to Kathy. He may have wanted out of his marriage to be with the other woman and making Kathy's death look like a car accident to collect the insurance money.

It's still such a sad case. Someone once said that maybe if their son had been home on time instead of fooling around and having his parents look for him, then maybe that would've prevented the argument and her murder. That's not to say though that Robert was planning to kill Kathy all along at any time.

If you read the link 1990 UM fan posted above, it said he took out a life insurance policy and there were rumors he was seeing his soon-to-be second wife while married to Kathy. He may have wanted out of his marriage to be with the other woman and making Kathy's death look like a car accident to collect the insurance money.

I see.

Yes this looks like something deep rooted that I am sure had very little - if anything - to do with the son being out late. I can only imagine how the son flt at that time and maybe still does. He'd have felt guilty for years over that which I am sure his father wouldn't have helped either.

If you read the link 1990 UM fan posted above, it said he took out a life insurance policy and there were rumors he was seeing his soon-to-be second wife while married to Kathy. He may have wanted out of his marriage to be with the other woman and making Kathy's death look like a car accident to collect the insurance money.

I see.

Yes this was something deep rooted that I think had nothing to do with the son being out late at all. I can only imagine how guilty the son would have felt all those years though.

Wonder if the husband was related to the sheriff,seems like he was trying to bury this under the rug.

Always strange that no mention of the husband was given after the argument. I understand UM liked to hide certain things from the viewer but certainly I think they should have at least said he declined to participate or something. The son also, why wasn't he active further also?

Always strange that no mention of the husband was given after the argument. I understand UM liked to hide certain things from the viewer but certainly I think they should have at least said he declined to participate or something. The son also, why wasn't he active further also?

I think their angle on certain cases depended a lot on who brought the case to them. I wouldn't be surprised if it was either Ed Allmaras (sheriff) or William Byram (state patrol investigator) who contacted UM about the case rather than the family since the episode focused on the differing opinions of those two men. In particular, I believe it was most likely Byram since he was the one lobbying that it was a crime that needed to be investigated.

If her son wasn't late from his curfew, his mom would've still been alive.

If her son wasn't late from his curfew, his mom would've still been alive.

She probably would have killed another time during another argument.

If her son wasn't late from his curfew, his mom would've still been alive.

No. If her son wasn't late from curfew, that would mean the father would have had to arrange to kill Kathy a different night to collect the life insurance he had just taken out on her and then started life anew with the woman he was already secretly seeing.

Kathy would not be alive today. It's too bad Mr. Bonderson not only killed his wife but he let his son live with the guilt of him being late somehow causing his mother's death when investigators believe Kathy was already dead before she could go out looking for him.

Unfortunately, I agree. Kathy was going to get killed no matter what anyone did. The son being late just presented an opportunity...

From the UM Wiki Entry........
http://unsolvedmysteries.wikia.com/wiki/Kathy_Bonderson

"In November of 2005, cold case investigators re-opened the case and a new autopsy performed proved that Kathy had definitely been murdered. It was discovered that there were injuries to her neck and throat that were not consistent with the accident. It is believed that these injuries were the cause of her death.

In February of 2006, authorities discovered that Kathy's husband Robert was living in Thermopolis, Wyoming. After talking to the police, he vanished, leaving behind his bank and credit cards. In April of 2006, authorities discovered that Robert had taken his own life in a remote cabin in the Montana mountains. Police later concluded that had Robert been alive, that he would have been arrested for Kathy's murder, and that he is definitely responsible for her death.

During the investigations over the years, it was discovered that Robert had started dating another woman a few months prior to Kathy's death. Also, he had taken a $50,000 life insurance policy out on Kathy just two months prior to her death. It was also discovered that their son, Jamie, who had seen his mother's car driving by him on the night of her death, had stated that his father was the one driving the car. His girlfriend confirmed this, as she had written about it in her diary. Investigators now believe that Kathy was killed at her home and placed in her car. They believe that Robert drove her to the railroad tracks and set her car on fire. The case is now considered closed.
Sheriff Ed Allmaras passed away in 1997."

What a weird segment. The only mention of the husband is at the beginning of the segment, and there is no motive presented as to why he or anyone else would want Kathy dead. It's more of a law enforcement theory vs. law enforcement theory segment as opposed to a did he or murder her or not type of segment. Rob Bonderson got more leeway than any other guilty spouse featured on the show. Must've had a good lawyer.

No doubt. I wonder how long after the segment, the revelations about his mistress and that $50K insurance policy surfaced? More importantly, I wonder why the statements by her son and his girlfriend didn't make it into the segment (that would've sealed things up right away) ??

More importantly, I wonder why the statements by her son and his girlfriend didn't make it into the segment (that would've sealed things up right away) ??

I wonder if he got his son to lie for him, and in turn the son got the girlfriend to keep quiet. IIRC, they found statements in the girlfriend's diary that supported this.

I always love to compare this segment to the Aeileen Conway case. In that one, her death is ruled an accident, but the husband fights diligently to get the case reopened and is a very active participant in the UM segment. In this one, the husband pretty much just slinks into the background and is a complete non-factor in the UM segment because he's obviously hoping the original accident ruling will stick.

No doubt. I wonder how long after the segment, the revelations about his mistress and that $50K insurance policy surfaced? More importantly, I wonder why the statements by her son and his girlfriend didn't make it into the segment (that would've sealed things up right away) ??

I've often wondered if Rob Bonderson and Ed Allmaras were friends.

I've often wondered if Rob Bonderson and Ed Allmaras were friends.

I wondered about that too. Allmaras had tunnel vision, but it's curious why there was little investigation after the autopsy in late 1987 proved it was a homicide, until it was reopened nearly two decades later. That small of a community probably didn't have that many homicides or suspect deaths per decade, so this was a case that should have been prioritized.

It's probably been mentioned on here before, but Rob Bonderson moved to Thermopolis, WY after the murder; he just missed out on socializing with Gabby...

I don't know if Ed Allmaras intentionally steered the case towards an accident, but from what I remember, the segment mentions that there were tire tracks that veered off to the right before the part on the tracks that a car would be able to drive over, meaning that her car hit the exposed tracks. I want to give him the benefit of the doubt, but the empty gas can found near the scene, as well as Kathy being dead prior to the fire being started, it's kind of hard to.

I don't know if Ed Allmaras intentionally steered the case towards an accident, but from what I remember, the segment mentions that there were tire tracks that veered off to the right before the part on the tracks that a car would be able to drive over, meaning that her car hit the exposed tracks. I want to give him the benefit of the doubt, but the empty gas can found near the scene, as well as Kathy being dead prior to the fire being started, it's kind of hard to.

Just my impression of Allmaras from the segment, he came across as territorial, someone that dug his heels in when "my investigation" (as he termed it) and findings were disputed by Byram. In a small county, you'd want assistance from state investigators, who tend to bring far more resources and experience to the table.

What a weird segment. The only mention of the husband is at the beginning of the segment, and there is no motive presented as to why he or anyone else would want Kathy dead. It's more of a law enforcement theory vs. law enforcement theory segment as opposed to a did he or murder her or not type of segment. Rob Bonderson got more leeway than any other guilty spouse featured on the show. Must've had a good lawyer.

It is rather odd that there was no mention of the husband taking out that life insurance policy shortly before Kathy's death. That had to have been known by the time of the production of that segment.

Just my impression of Allmaras from the segment, he came across as territorial, someone that dug his heels in when "my investigation" (as he termed it) and findings were disputed by Byram. In a small county, you'd want assistance from state investigators, who tend to bring far more resources and experience to the table.

I agree with this. I'm on the fence as to whether the sheriff was covering up for her husband or not, but he definitely didn't want anyone interfering with his work. I'm sure he didn't want the state boys telling him how to do his business.

Sadly, as was discussed on another thread, all too often on UM small jurisdictions with little to no training on investigation, who are trying to keep their pride in tact, will jump to conclusions early and/or not do a proper investigation. My gut feeling is that the sheriff just went with the most obvious answer, and then when questions were asked he didn't want to admit he might be wrong. However, it an area that small I wouldn't doubt it if he was in with her husband on covering it up.

Bumping this thread. From an American law enforcement perspective I absolutely can’t get enough of this segment. It really shows the diversity in our country and the ability to solve crime that otherwise would not be possible without checks and balances. I mean this in the most sincere manner. God bless that sheriff for doing his best and thank the lord for big brother state trooper stepping in.

God bless that sheriff for doing his best and thank the lord for big brother state trooper stepping in.

Allmaras took a very narrow, obstinate view and was the reason for the delay in getting to the truth in his case.

Byram thankfully knew he was right and refused to be stonewalled. Good for him!

Allmaras took a very narrow, obstinate view and was the reason for the delay in getting to the truth in his case.

Byram thankfully knew he was right and refused to be stonewalled. Good for him!

Not to make light of Kathy’s murder which was callous. I’m glad the truth has finally been told. But regarding our legal system, that segment just gets me in the American spirit every time I watch it. The quest for real science vs. personal pride and the everlasting thirst for respect of positional power....I feel like I need to write a term paper now.

Post it here if you do! It’s an interesting case

This Kathy Bonderson case was bizarre. Glad they did finally prove that her husband killed her.

Allmaras took a very narrow, obstinate view and was the reason for the delay in getting to the truth in his case.

Byram thankfully knew he was right and refused to be stonewalled. Good for him!

The late Allamaras was a douche-bag; I agree that his tunnel vision was the reason this case didn't get solved earlier. It's sloppy LE like him that are the reason crimes don't get investigated as thoroughly as they should be; it's also LE like this that wrongfully convict innocent people just so they can clear a case.

If her son wasn't late from his curfew, his mom would've still been alive.

What a horrible thing to say.

What a horrible thing to say.

I apologize for what I said. I saw other comments after I commented, and I agree with them, her husband would’ve killed her eventually, just happened to be that night. I’m sorry I blamed the son, because he missed curfew :(