Minneapolis, MN
Rare clue at Minneapolis crime scene points to a barefoot killer
It was a grisly scene when police arrived at a Minneapolis apartment complex on June 13, 1993, to investigate the murder of 35-year-old Jeanie Childs. Her body was found partially under her bed, her bedroom was in disarray, and there was blood spatter across the walls and floor. Childs had been stabbed more than 60 times. As investigators tried to piece together what unfolded, they found a rare clue in the bedroom: bloody, bare footprints.
“That drew my attention right away … I mean, wow,” Bart Epstein, a retired forensic scientist, told “48 Hours” correspondent Erin Moriarty in “The Footprint,” airing May 17 at 10/9c on CBS and streaming on Paramount+. “You don’t see this at crime scenes in general, bare feet that have stepped in blood,” said Epstein.
Investigators knew the footprints had to belong to Childs’ killer because she was wearing socks at the time of her death. Those footprints had to have been left there after the perpetrator stepped in her wet blood after the murder. Investigators documented and photographed the footprints.
“So the footprints, beyond being something that would tend to show guilt, also was important to show to clear people who might have been under any suspicion,” said retired FBI agent Chris Boeckers, who would later join the investigation.
According to the case file, investigators compared the footprints left at the crime scene to multiple people, including a man named Arthur Gray, whom Childs lived with at the time of her murder. According to police reports, authorities found hairs stuck to Childs’ left hand and one of those hairs matched Gray.
But Boeckers says the case against Gray started to fall apart pretty quickly. “He had a really solid alibi that he was out of town that weekend that was corroborated by others.” Gray, who enjoyed riding motorcycles, told authorities he was in Milwaukee. Forensic scientists also examined Gray’s footprints and determined he did not leave those footprints at the crime scene.
Days turned into years and then decades without finding the individual who left those footprints. In 2015, forensic scientist Andrea Feia, who was asked to do DNA testing on items collected at the crime scene, determined there was an unknown DNA profile that kept repeating itself. It was found on the comforter, a towel, a washcloth, a T-shirt and on the bathroom sink.
Investigators then turned to investigative genetic genealogy for answers. A forensic genealogist submitted the unknown DNA profile to genealogy websites. “The forensic genealogist indicated she had a match to potentially two brothers here in Minnesota,” Boeckers said. One of those brothers was businessman and hockey dad Jerry Westrom.
Investigators were anxious to confirm that the unknown crime scene DNA was indeed Westrom’s, but to do that, they needed to track him down. In January 2019, investigators followed Westrom to his daughter’s college hockey game in Wisconsin and obtained a napkin and food container he had used after eating at the arena. They took the items to the lab for testing and the results revealed there was a match.
The following month, in February 2019, Westrom was arrested for the murder of Childs. During his police interview, Westrom denied being at the apartment and knowing Childs. The next day, authorities collected his footprints for comparison.
Although Westrom’s DNA was at the scene, it was important to confirm the footprints belonged to him because there was other male DNA found at Childs’ apartment that did not belong to Westrom.
Mark Ulrick, a supervisor with the Minneapolis Police Forensic Division, examined the footprints. “In Minnesota here, people are not committing crimes a lot of times with the socks and shoes off,” he told “48 Hours.” He says he focused on the friction ridge skin — the arrangement of ridges and furrows — unique to every person. “Friction ridge skin is found on … your fingers, your palms, and the soles of your feet,” Ulrick explained. During his examination, he compared the unknown footprints to Westrom’s prints and to those of alternate suspects.
Westrom’s defense team hired its own forensic scientist, Alicia McCarthy, to verify Ulrick’s work. What would the experts conclude about the footprints? Watch “The Footprint” Saturday, May 17 at 10/9c on CBS and streaming on Paramount+.
Investigators in north Minneapolis are looking into the cause of a house fire that injured an adult and required a dog to be rescued on Saturday afternoon.
Crews responded to the fire at the one-and-a-half-story home on the 2000 block of Logan Avenue North around 12:33 p.m. They were able to “quickly extinguish” flames they found in a bedroom on the first floor, according to the Minneapolis Fire Department.
Officials said the adult was treated for burns to their hands and the rescued dog was not harmed.
According to the fire department, the home was “deemed uninhabitable” due to damage from the blaze.
The American Red Cross helped two adults and three children after the incident.
MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) – One person is recovering from serious injuries after the Minneapolis Fire Department rescued them from a burning home.
Minneapolis Thanksgiving fire
What we know:
The Minneapolis Fire Department said its crews battled a fire at a two-story home in the 3600 block of Garfield Avenue South around 4:45 p.m. on Thursday, Thanksgiving Day.
Crews then used a ladder to rescue the person from the second story of the burning home.
That person, identified only as an adult, was taken to the hospital in serious condition.
A dog died after crews rescued it from the home, according to the Minneapolis Fire Department.
What we don’t know:
Authorities have not shared any details on what may have caused the fire.
Details on the rescued adult were not specified.
The Source: This story uses information shared by the Minneapolis Fire Department.
November 26, 2025 – PRESSADVANTAGE –
SERVPRO of Downtown Minneapolis/Team Clemente has announced significant investments in advanced restoration technology and enhanced service capabilities to better serve Minneapolis-area property owners facing water, fire, and mold damage. The expansion represents the company’s ongoing commitment to delivering comprehensive restoration solutions using industry-leading equipment and proven methodologies.
The technology enhancement initiative focuses on upgrading the company’s restoration equipment arsenal and implementing advanced techniques designed to restore damaged properties to their pre-loss condition more efficiently. These improvements complement the company’s existing IICRC certifications in water damage restoration, mold remediation, and fire damage restoration, strengthening their position as a comprehensive restoration service provider in the Minneapolis market.
SERVPRO of Downtown Minneapolis/Team Clemente has served the Minneapolis community for over ten years, building expertise in addressing the region’s specific restoration challenges. The company’s approach combines emergency response capabilities with reconstruction services, providing property owners with integrated solutions from initial damage assessment through complete restoration.
The investment in advanced technology addresses the increasing complexity of restoration projects in the Minneapolis area, where properties frequently experience damage from severe weather conditions, frozen pipes, and seasonal flooding. The enhanced capabilities enable the company to handle both residential and commercial restoration projects with greater precision and efficiency.
“We recognize that property damage situations require both immediate response and long-term restoration expertise,” said Scott Clemente, Owner of SERVPRO of Downtown Minneapolis/Team Clemente. “Our investment in advanced technology ensures we can provide Minneapolis property owners with the most effective restoration solutions available.”
The company’s comprehensive approach includes direct communication with insurance adjusters and thorough damage documentation, streamlining the claims process for property owners. This service model has positioned the business as a preferred provider among insurance professionals and property owners throughout the Minneapolis metropolitan area.
SERVPRO of Downtown Minneapolis/Team Clemente maintains 24/7 emergency response capabilities, averaging 60-minute response times for urgent situations. The company’s team of over 65 employees provides coverage across downtown Minneapolis and central Minneapolis neighborhoods, addressing water damage from burst pipes, sewage backups, storm flooding, and equipment failures.
The technology expansion also enhances the company’s mold remediation capabilities, addressing moisture-related issues that commonly affect Minneapolis properties due to the region’s climate conditions. Advanced moisture detection and air quality monitoring equipment enable more precise identification and remediation of mold problems in basements, crawl spaces, and other vulnerable areas.
Fire damage restoration services benefit from upgraded soot removal technology and enhanced deodorization capabilities. The improved equipment allows for more effective smoke odor elimination and water damage mitigation from firefighting efforts, reducing overall restoration timelines for affected properties.
The company’s damage restoration services encompass both mitigation and reconstruction phases, providing property owners with continuity throughout the restoration process. This integrated approach eliminates the need for multiple contractors and ensures consistent quality standards from initial emergency response through final reconstruction.
As a family-operated business, SERVPRO of Downtown Minneapolis/Team Clemente continues to prioritize community relationships and customer service excellence. The technology investment reinforces the company’s commitment to maintaining industry leadership in restoration capabilities while preserving the personalized service approach that has defined their reputation in the Minneapolis market.
The enhanced technology capabilities position SERVPRO of Downtown Minneapolis/Team Clemente to address evolving restoration challenges with greater precision, efficiency, and reliability. These advancements strengthen their ability to respond quickly to complex property damage scenarios and reinforce their role as a trusted restoration partner for Minneapolis-area property owners facing unexpected water, fire, or mold damage situations. By combining certified expertise with cutting-edge tools, the team continues to deliver consistent, high-quality outcomes that safeguard properties.
###
For more information about SERVPRO of Downtown Minneapolis/Team Clemente, contact the company here:
SERVPRO of Downtown Minneapolis/Team Clemente
Scott Clemente
(651) 564-9277
scott@servpro10278.com
1770 Hennepin Ave B1, Minneapolis, MN 55403
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