Prosecution rests in Rossbach case

BEMIDJI—Attorneys prosecuting Brandon Rossbach—one of two men accused of helping burn and bury the body of Rose Downwind after she was killed by her former boyfriend—rested their case against him Monday after testimony from 19 witnesses.

Rossbach, 32, of Bemidji is charged with one count of aiding an offender in connection with the death of Downwind, 31, of Redby. Downwind's confessed murderer, Marchello Cimmarusti, named Rossbach and Christopher Davis, 28, of St. Paul as accomplices after turning himself in to police Dec. 9. According to Cimmarusti, Davis and Rossbach helped him transport Downwind's body to a location northwest of Bemidji where they burned and buried it.

Questions posed Monday to one witness—Detective Michelle Leffelman with the Bemidji Police Department—prompted a discussion of Rossbach's criminal history while the jury was out of the courtroom. When Rossbach was arrested Dec. 9 Leffelman requested a "nighttime warrant," which is granted when the subject of the warrant could pose a danger to police.

http://www.bemidjipioneer.com/news/4143799-courts-prosecution-rests-rossbach-case