Jessie Blodgett case: How a teenage friendship ended in a fatal crime
TOI GLOBAL DESK | TOI GLOBAL | Jan 23, 2026, 20:48 IST
The 2013 killing of Wisconsin college student Jessie Blodgett shocked her community and exposed how a long-standing teenage friendship with her ex-boyfriend ended in violence that led to Daniel Bartelt receiving a life prison term.
TL;DR
The 2013 murder of Wisconsin college student Jessie Blodgett occurred when her ex-boyfriend Daniel Bartelt killed her. He received a life sentence after police connected him to her murder and an earlier knife attack.
Inside her bedroom, the body of Jessie Blodgett appeared on July 15, 2013 - a date etched quietly into memory. Nineteen years marked her age; one full year stood behind her at the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee, focused on music education. From Hartford, Wisconsin, she carried traces of a modest upbringing, steady and unremarkable until its abrupt close. What followed stirred unease, lingering past the facts. A bond formed in early days shifted shape entirely when altered by hidden pressures. Though tied by younger years, the individual linked to her death showed how easily faith bends under strain not seen. Tragedy clung close, refusing simple explanation. This case stands unresolved in public memory, not because answers are missing, but due to its chilling shift from innocent beginnings toward irreversible violence.
Home during midday, Joy Blodgett came upon her daughter motionless. Though tied, the young woman’s hands showed no struggle. Blood marked the sheets where she lay. From a recorded emergency line, Joy's voice carried disbelief - her child did not respond. Death was confirmed by officials before removal began.
Days passed before the killing took place, following a stabbing incident involving Melissa Etzler at Richfield Historical Park, located about thirty miles distant. Without warning, during that event, a man lunged at her with a knife, prompting resistance through grasping the sharp edge - hand wounds resulted. Escape came when he ran off toward a waiting van, leaving behind enough detail for identification purposes. Information given to authorities later shaped investigative priorities significantly. From transcripts of courtroom documents and dialogue broadcast on ABC’s “20/20,” momentum shifted distinctly afterward.
Later, authorities named Daniel Bartelt - once linked romantically to Blodgett - as a person of interest in the attack at the park. Though their romance ended during adolescence, contact persisted across several years. From shared stages in academic theater, a creative partnership emerged; this carried forward long past school days concluded. A visit occurred between them just days prior to her passing, when he arrived at her residence. Information provided by Jessie's father, Buck Blodgett, outlined these connections in an interview with “20/20.”.
Following Blodgett’s death, a gathering took place, organized by relatives, where acquaintances came together. Present among them was Bartelt, who offered quiet support to those grieving, as reported in statements given to “20/20.” While the event unfolded, authorities reached out directly, requesting his presence for discussion about the incident at the park. In conversation with officers, he acknowledged targeting Etzler, explaining - per official documents - that fear had been his intent, prompted by how unbothered people appeared around him.
Suspicion grew among officials after Bartelt claimed Blodgett was assaulted and killed - information never shared beyond investigative circles. Inside a rubbish bin at a public park, law enforcement located an abandoned cereal container; within it lay binding material, adhesive strips, cleansing pads soaked in ethanol, plus biological samples matching both individuals. Web queries tied to notorious repeat offenders appeared during digital analysis of Bartelt’s machine, forming another thread in the case file.
Bartelt faced charges of first-degree intentional homicide following Blodgett’s death. Not admitting guilt, he stood trial; conviction followed after jury deliberation. Life imprisonment without chance of release became his sentence. The higher court rejected his appeal by 2018. Regarding the Etzler matter, admission of guilt occurred for reckless endangerment via negotiated plea terms. Dismissal marked the outcome for the attempted murder accusation.
Following the tragic event, Buck Blodgett started the LOVE greater than hate effort aimed at encouraging reconciliation while lessening conflict between individuals. During an interview with “20/20,” he explained how the program grows from the idea that violence spreads where affection is missing.
FAQs
The 2013 murder of Wisconsin college student Jessie Blodgett occurred when her ex-boyfriend Daniel Bartelt killed her. He received a life sentence after police connected him to her murder and an earlier knife attack.
Inside her bedroom, the body of Jessie Blodgett appeared on July 15, 2013 - a date etched quietly into memory. Nineteen years marked her age; one full year stood behind her at the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee, focused on music education. From Hartford, Wisconsin, she carried traces of a modest upbringing, steady and unremarkable until its abrupt close. What followed stirred unease, lingering past the facts. A bond formed in early days shifted shape entirely when altered by hidden pressures. Though tied by younger years, the individual linked to her death showed how easily faith bends under strain not seen. Tragedy clung close, refusing simple explanation. This case stands unresolved in public memory, not because answers are missing, but due to its chilling shift from innocent beginnings toward irreversible violence.
Home during midday, Joy Blodgett came upon her daughter motionless. Though tied, the young woman’s hands showed no struggle. Blood marked the sheets where she lay. From a recorded emergency line, Joy's voice carried disbelief - her child did not respond. Death was confirmed by officials before removal began.
Days passed before the killing took place, following a stabbing incident involving Melissa Etzler at Richfield Historical Park, located about thirty miles distant. Without warning, during that event, a man lunged at her with a knife, prompting resistance through grasping the sharp edge - hand wounds resulted. Escape came when he ran off toward a waiting van, leaving behind enough detail for identification purposes. Information given to authorities later shaped investigative priorities significantly. From transcripts of courtroom documents and dialogue broadcast on ABC’s “20/20,” momentum shifted distinctly afterward.
Later, authorities named Daniel Bartelt - once linked romantically to Blodgett - as a person of interest in the attack at the park. Though their romance ended during adolescence, contact persisted across several years. From shared stages in academic theater, a creative partnership emerged; this carried forward long past school days concluded. A visit occurred between them just days prior to her passing, when he arrived at her residence. Information provided by Jessie's father, Buck Blodgett, outlined these connections in an interview with “20/20.”.
Following Blodgett’s death, a gathering took place, organized by relatives, where acquaintances came together. Present among them was Bartelt, who offered quiet support to those grieving, as reported in statements given to “20/20.” While the event unfolded, authorities reached out directly, requesting his presence for discussion about the incident at the park. In conversation with officers, he acknowledged targeting Etzler, explaining - per official documents - that fear had been his intent, prompted by how unbothered people appeared around him.
Suspicion grew among officials after Bartelt claimed Blodgett was assaulted and killed - information never shared beyond investigative circles. Inside a rubbish bin at a public park, law enforcement located an abandoned cereal container; within it lay binding material, adhesive strips, cleansing pads soaked in ethanol, plus biological samples matching both individuals. Web queries tied to notorious repeat offenders appeared during digital analysis of Bartelt’s machine, forming another thread in the case file.
Bartelt faced charges of first-degree intentional homicide following Blodgett’s death. Not admitting guilt, he stood trial; conviction followed after jury deliberation. Life imprisonment without chance of release became his sentence. The higher court rejected his appeal by 2018. Regarding the Etzler matter, admission of guilt occurred for reckless endangerment via negotiated plea terms. Dismissal marked the outcome for the attempted murder accusation.
Following the tragic event, Buck Blodgett started the LOVE greater than hate effort aimed at encouraging reconciliation while lessening conflict between individuals. During an interview with “20/20,” he explained how the program grows from the idea that violence spreads where affection is missing.
FAQs
- Who Was Jessie Blodgett?
A young woman studied music education at the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee. Her age stood at nineteen years. - Who Was Found Guilty in Her Murder Case?
Found guilty was Daniel Bartelt, once her partner and known to her for many years. - Was Bartelt Charged With Rape?
That accusation did not result in charges within the Blodgett matter.