On November 29, 2017, The St. Louis County Sheriff's Office conducted a welfare check at 11072 S. Townline Road. Upon entering the residence they located the victim, Courtney Fenske deceased. The mail carrier noticed that the Decedent's mail had not been picked up since November 25, 2017. Finding that to be unusual she contacted her supervisor who advised her to call 911. Through their investigation, law enforcement determined the death likely occurred between November 26 and 27, 2017. An autopsy was conducted with the medical examiner ruling the death as a homicide attributed to asphyxia due to ligature strangulation and smothering.

Blake Stangel was identified as a suspect and was a former renter of Fenske. Stangel was arrested on May 24th, 2021 in the City of Hibbing on unrelated charges and consented to provide a DNA sample. Stangel's DNA was tested with DNA obtained from the crime scene by the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension's Crime Lab and was found to be a match.

On May 28th, 2021 Blake Stangel was formally arraigned and charged with 2nd Degree Manslaughter relating to the death of Courtney Fenske. He is currently being held at the St. Louis County Jail on $100,000 bail with his next court appearance scheduled for June 10th.