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Act now—your donation to local news ensures a brighter, more informed tomorrow. PRESTON, Minn. — The Fillmore County Attorney's Office has submitted a formal objection to the Minnesota Department of Corrections' Supervised Release Board, opposing the potential parole of David Engle, who was convicted of the 1995 murder of his 86-year-old step-great-grandmother, Gertie Bestor, at her home in Granger, Minnesota. Engle, who was 19 at the time of the crime, is originally from Cresco, Iowa. In a letter dated July 24, Assistant Fillmore County Attorney Marla J. Stanton emphasized that Engle must remain incarcerated due to the violent nature of the crime and his apparent lack of remorse. "There is no indication that the passage of time has rehabilitated Mr. Engle or caused him to be remorseful for his heinous crime," the letter stated. "There are numerous public safety concerns for both the victim's family and the community if he is released." Bestor was described as a beloved matriarch who helped raise nine children and was closely involved in the lives of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. "She was the cornerstone of their family and the small community of Granger," the letter noted. Family members shared deeply emotional accounts in their statements to the board. One relative recalled arriving at the home and finding Bestor "beyond recognition." Another wrote, "The family was forced to conduct the funeral with a closed casket because she had been beaten to a bloody pulp. Her children and grandchildren never got to say goodbye." In closing, Stanton wrote: "Her family never got the chance to comfort her or hold her hand. Gertie Bestor died a gruesome death at the hands of David B. Engle — alone and in pain." Engle was initially charged with 11 counts, including first- and second-degree murder, burglary and sexual assault. He pleaded not guilty at first, but later reached a plea agreement in June 1996, pleading guilty to one count of first-degree murder. He did not admit to the killing but acknowledged the prosecution had enough evidence to convict him at trial. He was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 30 years, receiving credit for time already served. In February 2025, Engle became eligible for parole. The upcoming hearing marks his first opportunity for release. The Fillmore County Attorney's Office is urging the board to consider the long-lasting impact on the family and the potential risk to the community. The final decision on parole will be made by the Minnesota Department of Corrections. Act now—your donation to local news ensures a brighter, more informed tomorrow.

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Fillmore County Attorney Opposes Parole for 1995 Homicide Convict