Jessie Blodgett case resurfaces in new ’20/20′ episode tonight

Jessie Blodgett case resurfaces tonight in a chilling new 20/20 episode. The 19-year-old Wisconsin musician was found strangled in her bed in July 2013, and her killer was hiding in plain sight among her friends. Discover how investigators solved this shocking murder.

A Talented Young Musician’s Life Cut Short

Jessie Blodgett was a bright, passionate 19-year-old college student with an infectious love for performing arts. She studied music education at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and was deeply involved in theater productions. On the evening of July 14, 2013, Jessie returned home from a cast party after performing in Fiddler on the Roof, where she played the Fiddler. She arrived around 1 a.m. and went to her bedroom in her family’s Hartford, Wisconsin home.

The next morning, her mother Joy Blodgett discovered the unthinkable. Around noon on July 15, she found Jessie unresponsive in her bed with visible strangulation marks on her neck. Her hands appeared bound, and there was blood on her sheets and pillows. The case that followed would shock the quiet Wisconsin community.

A Hidden Darkness and Nearby Violence

Just three days before Jessie’s murder, a woman named Melissa Etzler survived a brutal knife attack in Richfield Historical Park, just miles away. Etzler was walking her dog when a man charged at her with a knife. In a desperate act of survival, she grabbed the blade with her bare hands, suffering deep lacerations to her palms and fingers, and managed to wrestle the weapon away. Her attacker fled in a van. Police immediately connected these two violent incidents, which would prove crucial to solving Jessie’s murder. The investigation would reveal that the same person committed both violent crimes within days of each other.

The Investigation Unfolds and Evidence Emerges

Investigators examined Jessie’s bedroom and discovered she had been killed by ligature strangulation. An autopsy confirmed she had also been sexually assaulted. Police focused on the van and the knife attack victim’s description, which led them to question Daniel Bartelt, a former classmate and ex-boyfriend of Jessie’s. During his interrogation, Bartelt made a critical mistake that exposed him as the killer.

When police questioned Daniel Bartelt about the park attack, he admitted his role. But then he made a devastating slip: while discussing Jessie’s death, he told authorities that someone had “raped and murdered” her. This detail had not been released to the public or media. Only the killer would know this information. Shortly after, investigators discovered a trash bin containing rope, alcohol wipes, and tape inside a discarded cereal box in the park where he’d admitted to walking the morning of the murder. DNA testing confirmed the evidence contained both Jessie and Bartelt’s genetic material.

“I was holding his hand, and I had my head on his shoulder crying. He squeezed my hand in comfort.”

— Moriah Boehlen, friend of Jessie and Bartelt

The Killer Among Friends Was Beloved and Trusted

Daniel Bartelt and Jessie had known each other for years. They dated briefly in high school but remained close friends. Bartelt was a straight-A student who was welcome in the Blodgett family home. The two would sit together at school, write songs, and perform together. After the murder, the darkness of Bartelt’s nature became apparent. He attended Jessie’s memorial vigil, where he hugged her parents and cried alongside grieving friends. When police called him for questioning during the vigil itself, no one suspected a thing. Investigators later discovered suspicious online search histories about serial killers on his computer, revealing a disturbing fascination with violent crime.

What Will Tonight’s 20/20 Episode Reveal About the Jessie Blodgett Case?

ABC’s 20/20: Her Last Note debuts tonight at 9 p.m. ET and will examine how this trusted friend became a murderer. The episode features interviews with Jessie’s father Buck Blodgett, who recounts the devastating day he learned his daughter was gone. The investigation details how Melissa Etzler’s survival and cooperation with authorities proved instrumental in identifying the killer. Viewers will hear directly from family members, investigators, and those close to the case about how Bartelt fooled his community while harboring violent urges. The update also showcases Buck’s inspiring response to tragedy: founding the LOVE>Hate Project in 2016 to combat interpersonal violence and promote forgiveness.

Sources

• ABC News – Official 20/20 coverage and investigative reporting on the Jessie Blodgett case
• People Magazine – Detailed timeline and background on Daniel Bartelt’s conviction and sentencing
• Wisconsin Department of Corrections – Custody and sentencing records for Daniel Bartelt

Jessica Morrison

Jessica Morrison is a seasoned entertainment writer with over a decade of experience covering television, film, and pop culture. After earning a degree in journalism from New York University, she worked as a freelance writer for various entertainment magazines before joining red94.net. Her expertise lies in analyzing television series, from groundbreaking dramas to light-hearted comedies, and she often provides in-depth reviews and industry insights. Outside of writing, Jessica is an avid film buff and enjoys discovering new indie movies at local festivals.