Bail set Friday at 1 million dollars for Vossen

Bail for Algene Vossen has been set at $1 million. Vossen, age 79,  of Sioux Falls made his first appearance in Kandiyohi County District Court Friday on a charge of 2nd Degree Murder for the January 1974 stabbing death of Mabel “Mae” Herman of Willmar.

Vossen was arrested in Sioux Falls July 23rd after a cold-case investigation matched his DNA with blood found at the murder scene. Vossen fought extradition back to Minnesota but after a warrant from Governor Tim Walz was served, South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem ordered him returned to Willmar.

In Kandiyohi County District Court Friday, a frail-looking Vossen appeared before Judge Jenna Fischer from the Kandiyohi County Jail via closed circuit t.v. He wore a white mask throughout the proceedings, and the only time he spoke was when the Judge asked if his name was Algene Leland Vossen and he shouted No!, then Yes!

Through his court-appointed attorney Kent Marshall, Vossen deferred entering a plea and asked for an uncontested omnibus hearing, which was set for November 24th.

Regarding bail, Assistant Kandiyohi County Attorney Kristen Pierce said Vossen has been committing crimes since he was 16, escaped from prison, moved to Sioux Falls shortly after the Herman murder, and had a DWI in 2018 and was a risk to the public. She asked for $2 million unconditional bail.

Marshall said Vossen’s wife recently died, he is in poor health, has siblings in the Willmar area, and was not a flight risk. He asked for some sort of meaningful bail Vossen might be able to post, but Judge Fischer said she was concerned over Vossen’s lack of connections with the state of Minnesota, and his lack of cooperation in court proceedings so far.

(JP Cola, KWLM)