Delia D'Ambra

The coroner in William's case had not held a formal inquest into how he died, and Sam and Ben McMullen were not happy about that. So at some point after their brother's burial, the pair asked the county attorney to straight up issue a warrant for Nelson's arrest. But the county attorney declined to do so.

The coroner in William's case had not held a formal inquest into how he died, and Sam and Ben McMullen were not happy about that. So at some point after their brother's burial, the pair asked the county attorney to straight up issue a warrant for Nelson's arrest. But the county attorney declined to do so.

Instead, he launched his own probe into the matter to try and get to the bottom of what really happened. While that investigation was going on, things got even more tense between Sam and Ben and Nelson. At one point, the brothers reportedly threatened Nelson's life, and as a result, Nelson managed to get both of them arrested and thrown in jail.

Instead, he launched his own probe into the matter to try and get to the bottom of what really happened. While that investigation was going on, things got even more tense between Sam and Ben and Nelson. At one point, the brothers reportedly threatened Nelson's life, and as a result, Nelson managed to get both of them arrested and thrown in jail.

They only spent one night behind bars, but you know that was more than enough time for the brothers' disdain for Nelson to grow even stronger. After they were released, their attorney and the county attorney met, and everyone agreed to cool off and go home until the county attorney's investigation concluded.

They only spent one night behind bars, but you know that was more than enough time for the brothers' disdain for Nelson to grow even stronger. After they were released, their attorney and the county attorney met, and everyone agreed to cool off and go home until the county attorney's investigation concluded.

Meanwhile, Nelson's wife and daughter told anyone who would listen how innocent Nelson was, almost to the point where it got kind of suspicious. Like, apparently the women advocated so much for Nelson in such a public way that it came off as a little bit over the top.

Meanwhile, Nelson's wife and daughter told anyone who would listen how innocent Nelson was, almost to the point where it got kind of suspicious. Like, apparently the women advocated so much for Nelson in such a public way that it came off as a little bit over the top.

Eventually, by early December, the county attorney determined that at a minimum, Nelson seemed to have committed criminal negligence for shooting and killing William. He issued a warrant for Nelson's arrest, which charged the 57-year-old with manslaughter. Right after that document was written up, the local sheriff traveled to Wisconsin and brought Nelson back to Minnesota to stand trial.

Eventually, by early December, the county attorney determined that at a minimum, Nelson seemed to have committed criminal negligence for shooting and killing William. He issued a warrant for Nelson's arrest, which charged the 57-year-old with manslaughter. Right after that document was written up, the local sheriff traveled to Wisconsin and brought Nelson back to Minnesota to stand trial.

He was housed at a jail in the city of Bemidji, which is about 45 minutes northeast of Itasca State Park. At an examination hearing a few days after the arrest, the prosecution displayed a photo of the area in the forest where William had been killed in an effort to clearly show the court that Nelson should have been able to see unobstructed what was in his path when he fired his gun.

He was housed at a jail in the city of Bemidji, which is about 45 minutes northeast of Itasca State Park. At an examination hearing a few days after the arrest, the prosecution displayed a photo of the area in the forest where William had been killed in an effort to clearly show the court that Nelson should have been able to see unobstructed what was in his path when he fired his gun.

But when Nelson's defense attorney, a guy named L.H. Bailey, studied the photo, he was able to successfully prove that a couple of trees had been removed from the shooting location after the incident happened, but before the photo was taken, essentially making it moot evidence against Nelson.

But when Nelson's defense attorney, a guy named L.H. Bailey, studied the photo, he was able to successfully prove that a couple of trees had been removed from the shooting location after the incident happened, but before the photo was taken, essentially making it moot evidence against Nelson.

Furthering Nelson's defense was the fact that his wife had reportedly tied a scarf around William's neck before the hunting group set off into the woods to ensure he could be seen from a distance by his companions and not mistaken for an animal.

Furthering Nelson's defense was the fact that his wife had reportedly tied a scarf around William's neck before the hunting group set off into the woods to ensure he could be seen from a distance by his companions and not mistaken for an animal.

Also, this scarf, which I think some of the older coverage refers to interchangeably as William's necktie, served another purpose of keeping William warm because apparently he'd had a cold leading up to the hunting expedition.

Also, this scarf, which I think some of the older coverage refers to interchangeably as William's necktie, served another purpose of keeping William warm because apparently he'd had a cold leading up to the hunting expedition.

But an alleged declaration that Nelson was said to have uttered not long after the shooting didn't do his defense any favors and caused some people to turn their heads and doubt everything about his version of events. According to John Dobie's book, shortly after William was killed, several of his friends overheard Nelson talking about the incident, and not in a mournful way.

But an alleged declaration that Nelson was said to have uttered not long after the shooting didn't do his defense any favors and caused some people to turn their heads and doubt everything about his version of events. According to John Dobie's book, shortly after William was killed, several of his friends overheard Nelson talking about the incident, and not in a mournful way.