The Jaysen Greenwood murder was a May 2016 killing in Hibbing, Minnesota, in which 20-year-old Greenwood was stabbed, beaten, and strangled by his roommate, Dylan Bernard Gilbertson, whose accomplices then helped move the body to an abandoned iron ore mine pit near Mountain Iron and set it on fire. Gilbertson pleaded guilty to intentional second-degree murder and was sentenced to 35 years in prison. Two other roommates were convicted of aiding an offender.
Who Jaysen Greenwood Was
Greenwood was born on December 15, 1995, in Hibbing and graduated with honors from Hibbing High School in 2014.1Dougherty Funeral Home. Jaysen D. Greenwood Obituary Family described him as soft-spoken and outgoing, with a “heart of gold.”2Duluth News Tribune. Family Remembers Jaysen Greenwood; Killer Sentenced to 35 Years in Prison He was living in an apartment on Howard Street in Hibbing with Gilbertson and two other roommates at the time of his death. He would have turned 21 the day after his killer was formally sentenced.
How the Killing Happened
Greenwood and Gilbertson, ages 19 and 20, had been friends before living together. Their relationship deteriorated as both began using methamphetamine, which court filings and later testimony tied to erratic behavior in the household.3Mesabi Tribune. Events Begin to Unfold in Greenwood Murder Gilbertson had threatened Greenwood’s life several times and accused him of stealing a tablet and cellphone.4Mesabi Tribune. A Methamphetamine Fueled Monster A 16-year-old roommate later told investigators that the dispute over the stolen electronics drove the confrontation.5Star Tribune. Hibbing Man Admits Killing Roommate, Burning Body in Abandoned Mine
The attack took place on May 18 or in the early morning of May 19, 2016, inside the shared apartment. The juvenile roommate, Julianna Christine Sala, told investigators she watched Gilbertson strangle Greenwood with a cord and then demand a wooden paddle, which he used to strike the victim’s head.6Bemidji Pioneer. Two Charged With Aiding an Offender in Iron Range Homicide Case A medical examiner determined the cause of death was a combination of stabbing, blunt-force trauma, and strangulation. A broken knife blade was recovered from Greenwood’s chest.7Twin Cities Pioneer Press. Hibbing Man Pleads Guilty to Killing Roommate, Burning Body
Discovery at the Mine Pit
Gilbertson wrapped the body in cloth, blankets, towels, and plastic, drove it to the Mott Pit area of an old iron ore mine near Mountain Iron, roughly 15 miles from Hibbing, and set the remains on fire.8Bring Me The News. Iron Range Man Charged With Murder After Roommate’s Body Found Near Mine Pit On May 19, 2016, a passerby found the severely burned body in a ditch on the mine property, with the surrounding ground significantly charred.9Star Tribune. Investigation Underway After Hibbing Man’s Body Found Near Mine Pit
The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension identified Greenwood through fingerprint analysis. Tire marks near the ditch matched a vehicle at the apartment. A search of the residence turned up blood spots throughout, along with blood-stained boots and a wooden paddle.6Bemidji Pioneer. Two Charged With Aiding an Offender in Iron Range Homicide Case Investigators also found a gas can in the back seat of Greenwood’s car, which was parked outside.10Grand Forks Herald. Minnesota Teen Charged With Obstruction in Murder
Gilbertson’s Guilty Plea and 35-Year Sentence
Gilbertson was arraigned on May 24, 2016, in St. Louis County District Court in Virginia, Minnesota, on a charge of second-degree intentional homicide.7Twin Cities Pioneer Press. Hibbing Man Pleads Guilty to Killing Roommate, Burning Body11Bemidji Pioneer. Hibbing Man Who Killed Roommate Sentenced to 35 Years in Prison12InForum. Northern Minnesota Man Pleads Guilty to Killing Roommate, Burning Body
Sixth Judicial District Judge James Florey imposed the sentence on December 14, 2016. The 35-year term was a substantial upward departure from the presumptive sentence of roughly 25 and a half years for a first-time offender. Assistant St. Louis County Attorney Karl Sundquist told the court the brutality of the killing and the cover-up justified the departure: “He never had to bludgeon him. He never had to take him to that pit and burn his body.”2Duluth News Tribune. Family Remembers Jaysen Greenwood; Killer Sentenced to 35 Years in Prison No separate arson or body-desecration charges were filed; the burning was treated as evidence of the murder and its cover-up.7Twin Cities Pioneer Press. Hibbing Man Pleads Guilty to Killing Roommate, Burning Body
According to Minnesota Department of Corrections records, Gilbertson is incarcerated at the Minnesota Correctional Facility in Stillwater, with a projected release date of March 12, 2027.13Minnesota Department of Corrections. Offender Details – Gilbertson
What Happened to the Other Roommates
Two other people in the apartment were charged in connection with the killing.
Julianna Christine Sala, 16 at the time, was arrested on a felony charge of aiding an offender for witnessing the killing, helping transport the body, and lying to investigators. Prosecutors moved to certify her as an adult and to amend her charge to aiding and abetting intentional second-degree murder.14Duluth News Tribune. Prosecutors Seek to Add Murder Charge as Hibbing Teen Fights Move to Adult Court She was not certified as an adult. On January 18, 2017, she pleaded guilty to aiding an offender after the fact and was sentenced under extended juvenile jurisdiction. Judge Florey placed her on probation until her 21st birthday, with a stayed four-year adult prison term if she violated the terms. She was ordered to attend school, participate in mental health programming at the Woodland Hills treatment center in Duluth, complete aftercare, and write a letter of apology to Greenwood’s family.15Duluth News Tribune. Probation for Hibbing Teen Who Aided Killer
Sean Joseph Powers, 19, was charged with aiding an offender for cleaning blood from the apartment, helping move the body, and lying to police; his bail had been set at $500,000.6Bemidji Pioneer. Two Charged With Aiding an Offender in Iron Range Homicide Case He pleaded guilty to aiding an offender in second-degree intentional murder and was sentenced on April 3, 2017, to 41 months in prison under the terms of his plea. At sentencing, Powers apologized to the family. Greenwood’s sister Jazlyn addressed the court, saying, “We’ve never felt pain so deep. The fact that Sean was involved was shocking. He was part of Jaysen’s life for as long as I can remember.”16Duluth News Tribune. Hibbing Murder Case Draws to a Close; Final Defendant Sentenced to 41 Months