NIC MIU ANDREW DITTMAN INTERVIEW WITH Ryan Nelson DITTMAN: My name is Andrew this is Dusty. We’re investigators with the St. Croix County Sheriff’s department. Obviously your son was with a group of boys today tubing on the Apple River, so we just want to ask some questions, see what kind of transpired today and go from there. So first of, I’ll just get your names, I’m assuming you must be mom and dad. Mom go ahead with your first name Tamra: Tamra t-a-m-r-a Dittman: t-a-m-r-a Tamra: r-a yep Dittman: full middle name Tamra: full Lois l-o-i-s Dittman: and last name Tamra: Nicholas n-i-c-h-o-l-a-s hyphen Nelson Dittman: and your what’s your date of birth Tamra: 2/19/78 Dittman: and a good phone number for your preferably a cell Tamra: yep 651 Dittman: yep Tamra: 247-8948 Dittman: um what’s your current address Tamra: 296 County Road, Stillwater Dittman: what’s the zip code for Stillwater Tamra: 55082 Dittman: dad? Timothy: timothy, john Dittman: j-o-h-n Timothy: yep. Nelson Dittman: n-e-l-s-o-n. um date of birth? Timothy:10/5//73 Dittman: and same address? Timothy: no Dittman: different Timothy: yeah Dittman: what’s your current address Timothy: 1150 Legend Blvd, Stillwater Dittman: 55082 uh what’s a good phone number for you Timothy: [PHONE NUMBER REDACTED] Dittman: 1450 Timothy: yep Dittman: your name? Ryan: Ryan Steven Dittman: r-y-a-n Ryan: yep Dittman: steven s-t Ryan: e-v-e-n Dittman: last name Ryan: Nelson. May 4th, 2005 Dittman: 5/4/2005 uh good phone number for you Ryan: [PHONE NUMBER REDACTED] Dittman: 5150 where are you currently-are you Tamra: splits Dittman: splits, ok. Do you mind if we ask him just some questions about what transpired today Timothy: absolutely Tamra: yep absolutely Dittman: so Ryan it’s my understanding that you guys go to high school or went to high school together in Stillwater, yeah? Ryan: we still do, yeah Dittman: what grade are you guys Ryan: we’re going to be seniors Dittman: seniors. Alright so we’re going to go way, way, way back here this morning so you guys how did you guys end up deciding to go to Apple River today Ryan: I think we planned it out last night Dittman: ok Ryan: and then we just made a group chat and decided that we were going to go Dittman: and the group that all went today was all the ones in the group chat Ryan: yeah I think maybe like one in the group chat that didn’t go but Dittman: ok alright so take me, like what was the plan what did you guys plan out, where were you guys going to meet? Ryan: uh we met at the high school and then we all drove in one car Dittman: ok who’s vehicle did you guys ride in Ryan: Alex Vang Dittman: ok do you remember around about what time that was that you guys met at the high school Ryan: um about 1130 or 1140 Dittman: ok you guys meet at the high school what do you do from there Ryan: not much just put all our stuff in Alex’s car Dittman: alright where did you guys go to Ryan: the river Dittman: did you stop anywhere else on the way or just straight there Ryan: no just straight there Dittman: do you remember what cause there’s a lot of places I guess along the river do you remember the place that you went to Ryan: uh no Dittman: was that ever discussed at all Ryan: no Dittman: do you remember any names like River’s Edge or hideaway Ryan: the tubes were river’s edge Dittman: river’s edge Ryan: I don’t remember if that’s like exactly where we went but that’s what it said on the tubes Dittman: alight. Was I should ask you River’s edge is right off the highway could you see the highway from where you guys were at Ryan: uh yeah Dittman: like the 4 lane highway Ryan: I think so but I don’t know for sure Dittman: ok, that’s ok. Ryan: [inaudible] Dittman: nope that’s alright but you guys had river’s edge tubes Ryan: yeah Dittman: alright so you guys get to the river, what do you do Ryan: uh we just tie our tubes together and then we went down Dittman: do you guys remember where you put in at where you put your tubes in at Ryan: right next to the where we got them Dittman: so do you recall what time you started going down the river Ryan: I want to say maybe around 12:30 maybe Dittman:1230 Ryan: that’d be my best guess Dittman: alright. Who was all with you Ryan: um everyone you want me to just give you names Dittman: just first names is fine Ryan: Landon, Jawahn, Owen, Alex, Isaac Dittman: ok so you guys start tubing down the river um how long were you guys I guess what the plan for today, just tube the Apple and Ryan: yeah we were going to go back to Owen’s house but I don’t think that’s happening anymore Dittman: yeah were you guys going to camp there at all Ryan: no Dittman: weren’t going to stay just tube for the day and come back Ryan: take the bus Dittman: ok, so I might ask you just a couple uncomfortable questions and I realize your parents are here, did you guys have any alcohol today on the river Ryan: yeah Dittman: ok what’d you guys have Ryan: um there were some beers and some seltzers Dittman: ok do you remember what kind of beers you guys were drinking Ryan: I don’t know Dittman: did you guys have any like hard alcohol at all that you recall Ryan: no Dittman: alright um just to get an idea, how much would you say did you drink any alcohol today Ryan: yeah I did Dittman: and how much would you say you had today Ryan: like 3 or 4 Dittman: 3 or 4 Ryan: beers Dittman: beers ok was Isaac drinking at all today Ryan: um yeah Dittman: how much would you say he had to drink today Ryan: I would say around the same Dittman: ok what was Isaac demeanor today like did he seem like he was in a pretty good mood today, excited Ryan: yeah he was in a great mood Dittman: nothing seemed off with him at all? Ryan: no Dittman: alright so you guys are floating down the river. Just kind of go through what happens, I guess lets start here. You guys are floating down the river, how long were you guys on the river, how long do you recall being on the river before this incident happened Ryan: well I think the incident happened between 3 and 4 so that would be like 2 and a half hours Dittman: ok um can you just give me a lowdown on how this all kind of started Ryan: yeah so this weird guy, he was wearing a snorkel at first, he came up to us and he was kind of talking to us and we were a little weirded out Timothy: not in a tube right? Ryan: no not in a tube. Standing and then he kind of left and then he came back and he didn’t say anything and he was just standing over us right behind us just looking over us Dittman: was he in the water or on the bank Ryan: in the water Dittman: and were you guys standing or sitting in tubes Ryan: we were in our tubes, we were in our tubes Dittman: were you guys stationary Ryan: yeah we were Dittman: ok Ryan: and he was just standing there looking at us and we were all weirded out so then we got out of our tubes and Jawahn started recording and we were like what are you doing, why are you here, why are you so close to us, you need to back up. Then he kept getting closer and then another group of tubers came over and they were like you need to get away from these kids like you need to back up, you’re a pedophile you can’t be this, you can’t be touching these kids you need to back up. And then he punched the girl in the face who was all up in his face and then her friends started pushing him to the ground and hitting him. Dittman: do you know the female, the girl that got punched in the face Ryan: no I don’t it was a different group of tubers Dittman: do did you know anyone minus your friends that went today Ryan: no I don’t Dittman: did you recognize anyone else that was there Ryan: no Dittman: what was this guy saying to you guys like your initial contact with him Ryan: um he wasn’t saying much and he was just standing there looking at us and at one point he was like you want some of this and then he went like that Dittman: ok Ryan: and we were all like woah what the-why are you here, you need to leave, we’re all uncomfortable Dittman: did you guys ever say anything to him at all like get the eff away or get away from us Ryan: yeah Dittman: just be blunt I want to hear exactly if you remember Ryan: no yeah we were all calling him a pedophile like you need to get away, this is weird, like leave us alone, get out of here Dittman: ok Ryan: and then those people came over and they were all calling him a pedophile, it must have set him off or something Dittman: so give me your best physical description of the guy Ryan: he was middle-aged man, 40’s-50’s, he’s hairy in the chest, bigger guy Dusty: what color was his hair Ryan: um I don’t-darker Dittman: do you recall what he was wearing Ryan: just swim trunks Dittman: do you remember what color Ryan: no I don’t Dittman: you don’t recall what color and I remember you saying something about he had a snorkel Ryan: he did the first time, the second time he came up to us he did not Dittman: alright did he ever say anything to you like what he was doing Ryan: no Dittman: do you recall if you overhead anything Ryan: no I think he was by himself Dittman: ok. You see any tattoos or noticeable scars or marks or anything on his Ryan: no I don’t think he had any tattoos Dittman: so just wearing a set of swim trunks, no shirt Ryan: no shirt Dittman: hairy chest, belly Ryan: hairy chest, belly, yeah, yeah Dittman: bigger uh how tall do you think he was Ryan: I don’t know Dittman: I’m about 6’2” on a good day I guess. So taller than me, shorter? Ryan: I would say probably shorter Dittman: shorter, ok. Did he have any facial hair Ryan: yeah a beard Dittman: what color was his beard Ryan: I think just the same as his hair Dittman: ok so just a darker Ryan: yeah Dittman: darker beard. Alright. Alright so, he initially comes up and he’s kinda talking to you guys just kinda being weird-I guess you said he’s kind of acting weird what would you-I guess how would you describe weird Ryan: just standing right on our backs Timothy: not saying anything? Ryan: not saying anything just looking at us Dittman: ok Ryan: and we were all looking at him like what are you doing, you need to back up Dusty: like as you’re floating down the river Ryan: no we were stationary Dusty: ok Dittman: so how close was he to you guys Ryan: he was right on us Dittman: like within arm’s reach? Ryan: yeah Dusty: like this Ryan: yeah pretty much like that close Dittman: ok Timothy: on the edge of your circle? Ryan: yeah Dittman: ok um do you recall who he was uh standing over the top of, which one of your friends? Ryan: um I think Alex Dittman: ok Ryan: I think Dittman: alright so after he kind of leaves and then you see him again, does he come up to you guys does he come up to you guys or how does this Ryan: well no that’s when he was just standing over our tube when he came back the second time Dittman: ok so the first time, he was just kinda Ryan: kinda there Dittman: kinda there and about how far away from you guys was he the first time you saw him Ryan: I’d say about our distance Dittman: and he was just kinda just acting Ryan: acting weird, looking at us and we were like looking at him Dittman: did he seem like he was under the influence of alcohol or drugs or both or Ryan: I don’t know Dittman: just did something did he not seem right or his behavior Ryan: I think he was just a weird person Timothy: did he have a smirk on his face or was he mad or was he think he was funny or Ryan: no I don’t know I think he was just a weird person in general Dittman: ok alright fast forward again now here, so you guys are kinda telling him to get away, this female comes over and sounds like she kind of comes to your guys’ defense a says Ryan: yeah she got all up in his face Dittman: ok then what happens Ryan: then he hit her in the face and then I think her friends came over started pushing him to the ground, started hitting him and then I didn’t even see him with a knife I just saw this guy is like oh my god and I look over and the guy is holding his whole gut [inaudible] intestines and I was like -and then I couldn’t really look away cause I’m looking at this guy’s whole stomach that’s out of his body Dittman: ok Ryan: and that was just- Dittman: what happened to the initial female when she got punched in the face, did she fall down Ryan: yeah Dittman: did she stand up. Ok Timothy: was she in a tube Ryan: no cause they all walked over there, they were standing Dittman: ok how far away were they that female and that other group from you guys and him Ryan: the other shore bank Dittman: so they had to come a little ways over to him Ryan: yeah Dittman: ok so was he arguing with them at all or was he Ryan: a little bit he was mostly silent but I think maybe there was a few words exchanged Dittman: so he punches closed fist, open fist, do you recall Ryan: closed I think Dittman: so she gets hit, she goes down, then kinda it sounds like a hog pile kind of ensues people are jumping on people or how does that work Ryan: yeah I think they pushed him to the ground and he kinda fell over on the ground he got punched once or twice and got back up and then I don’t really know what happened from there it all happened so fast, I just look over and I saw guy’s whole stomach out Dittman: do you recall ever seeing a knife Ryan: no I don’t think so Dittman: ok. So after you see the guy holding on to you believe his guts what happens from there Ryan: well I was just looking there and I don’t I was just like what am I even looking at right now. I didn’t know what I was looking at and a couple minutes go by and I saw Isaac was bleeding from over here and he was getting medical attention over on the shore from my friends and other people and I went and I was standing in our tubes making sure we didn’t lose our tubes and Timothy: did the guy come back to you guys? Ryan: no I didn’t see him after Timothy: [inaudible overlap] after the girl got punched you think? Possible? Ryan: no, not before I think Dittman: you don’t recall seeing if he ran or if he fled Ryan: no once I, I didn’t see him after I saw the guy that was injured Dittman: ok Ryan: once I got up from that I didn’t see anything Dittman: ok um you say there were people tending to Isaac on the shore, then kind of take me through what do you do after you see this going on Ryan: I was making calls to people and I was holding on to our tubes, making sure we didn’t lose our tubes Dittman: ok Ryan: and then I was just calling people, making sure Dittman: alright Ryan: police got there Dittman: and then I guess how long do you think you guys waited until law enforcement Ryan: i would say 15 minutes Dittman: 15 mintues ok um what happens after I guess law enforcement shows up on the scene I guess did you talk to anybody initially or Ryan: yeah I talked to one guy on the shore Timothy: this guy (shows business card) Dittman: oh perfect. Alright, ok. Ryan: but then the police officers were there before the ambulance Dittman: ok Ryan: and then they were still doing cpr on both people for a while and then eventually the ambulance was there and they brought stretchers, and they needed floaties so I brought floaties over and there was other people that brought theirs so that’s when I-when we lost our floateis along with. They loaded both people on the stretcher and wheeled them down to the shore and brought him up and they were doing, they still did cpr on Isaac for about- Dittman: did Isaac ever say anything to this guy to like Ryan: no I don’t- not any more than the rest of us would have said Dittman: ok um never like did ever physically approach him at all or Ryan: not that I saw I think maybe he was just too close and in the wrong place at the wrong time Dittman: right ok. Timothy: were you guys close to the scuffle with the other group Ryan: yeah it was all well the guy was right here and they Tamra: well they came over to help Ryan: and the guy started yelling at her right in front of our faces Dittman: is there anything else that you can recall that you think would be helpful to this investigation Ryan: no I think we went through the whole story Dittman: ok well I certainly appreciate your time I know its not something that’s easy to sit and talk about and go over but I certainly appreciate mom and dad coming as well I’m going to give Tamra: one of the boys has a video Dittman: yeah, yep and its my understanding that one of us has the video Tamra: yeah has the phone and video Dittman: yeah perfect, if you can think of anything else that would be helpful I mean as today goes on, tomorrow, or the next day, you might recall things that you wouldn’t have remembered today Ryan: yeah Dittman: so if something comes up feel free to reach out to us. Um who would be the best person to give Tamra: we’ll have him carry both cards Dittman yeah perfect. Yeah if anything at all comes up or you recall anything that you think would be helpful to investigation just reach out to us. So sorry you guys had to go through something like this, its not an every day thing obviously that happens up there at Apple River. Dusty and I have worked out in St. Croix for a long time, we kind of know there’s some shenanigans that happen on the river, a lot of drinking and stuff like that that goes on so that’s why I just asked you about the alcohol stuff. You’re not going to be issued any citations or anything like that for underage drinking that’s the least of worries, we’re just trying to figure out what happened and transpired today okay and what happened to your friend. That’s all I got for you. I’ll obviously want to talk to the rest of the group here so if you want to just send somebody else over it doesn’t matter, no specific order, we’ll chat them. So thank you Nelson family: thank you