On April 22nd, 2024, Becker County Police Department in Minnesota received a 911 call reporting an active break-in. Little did they know they would soon find out the suspect is an elected senator for the state of Minnesota. >> Somebody broke into my house. >> My basement. >> Did you get a look at him at all? >> No, it was completely dark room. I was on the floor next to my bed and he ran downstairs into my basement. >> Okay. Did you hear him breaking out the window in the basement? >> I not hear anything right now. >> Okay. >> There's a basement a drop window that came open. I don't know. >> Please just stay here. >> I'll stay with you. Don't worry. I have officers in right now. If you hear anything, just let me know what's going on. Okay. Are you armed? I have a little stick in my hand right now. >> All right. Don't worry. I could have I don't see any um um my yard lights haven't come on outside or anything. You know, light. >> Did you notice any vehicles or anything like that? >> No. What happened? >> Okay. Am I speaking with Carol? >> Yes. I don't know what happened. Oh my god. Do you hear anything? >> No. Is that police? >> There's no officers just like res. >> Okay. >> Sorry. I'm still >> You're good. >> Here. Um, there's a drop window on the back side of the house and I don't know if that's >> Is he outside or inside? >> He ran down here. >> Okay. I'll go down there. You stay back here. >> Okay. Police department, make yourself known. Police department, make yourself known. 37 got a little motion underneath the stairs in the house. Sounds like he's trying to get outside of the back to the north of the house. Police department, make yourself known. Still in the house. A lot of motion underneath the stairs. Sounds like he's trying to get outside through a window. Police SP make yourself known now. [Applause] Where are you? >> The other turn bit off here. Watch out. >> Police department. underneath the stairs. >> That's what I was hearing motion at. >> Is there a way to get underneath the stairs? >> If you come up along, looks like there's a long driveway right to the back of the residence. >> Another bathroom there. bathroom. >> Get on the ground. >> Okay, >> I'll go. You stay back. Stay back. Stay back. >> Hands behind your back. >> Harold. >> Yeah, >> it's Nicole. >> It's Nicole. >> I was just trying to get a couple of my dad's things because he wouldn't talk to me anymore. >> He also stole documents out of. She's my stepdaughter. >> I didn't steal documents. How could I steal documents? >> Nicole, what's your last name? Mitchell, >> stand up. >> No one stole anything here. Carol, I don't have anything on me. If you want to talk, you got anything on you? >> No, >> I have I have a flashlight. >> That's it. >> Okay. Sit. >> Why would she squat down into my bed? >> Who is this to you? >> Who's this to you? >> She's my stepdaughter. >> Stepdaughter? >> She's also a Minnesota senator. She lives in the Twin Cities. Unknown to the officer at the time, the suspect previously was a meteorologist for the Weather Channel and a local news anchor before being elected a senator. >> She's a senator. >> Yeah. Yeah. Was >> or is currently? >> She is. I meant after this. >> Oh. >> Oh my god. My husband passed away just her father. And um the day after I died, her aunt came here and they walked out with all these two two of my husband's sisters. She's very close to one of them, Nancy. >> Okay. >> They're walking out the door with all these forms and I ran out the door. I said, "What are you guys doing?" She's Nancy said, "We're just trying to help you. Just trying to figure out where you are financially." >> No, it's a my partner. >> Okay. Okay. >> Anything else in here? >> No. Well, sir, >> I She's She's going to do what she's going to do. >> Okay. >> My dad died last year. She's paranoid. Well, now she's really paranoid, but um Can I just grab my shoes? >> Where are your shoes at? Just under the thing. >> 10:15 is a senator from Minnesota. >> Yeah, >> he's downstairs still. >> Why are your shoes stuck all the way? >> Well, cuz I was trying to get them with my feet. >> Has she done this before? >> Not that, but she's um insisted that um my son should get nothing. And she should get everything on. >> Where'd she come in at? >> You don't know? >> No. >> Any doors that are open? Does she have keys? >> They had those >> those sticks >> sticks on. >> Any windows open that you don't know of? >> Kitties have it run off and something. >> Okay. Any windows in the basement to the basement? >> Where's that window at? >> Whenever tried to help her right after the funeral. >> She's not trying to help me. She's trying to get >> She kept I can show you my bank. Let's go upstairs. >> Um, >> obviously I'm not good at this. Um, >> all right. Let's go out the front door here. >> Okay. I'm sorry. Are we Where they >> Yeah. We'll go to my car here quick and we'll let you sit down and >> Yeah. Yep. There it is. >> That window? >> No. Over there. Yeah. Okay. Is this her bag? That's >> Yeah. Stuck in the window. >> You mean to go out and try to get it out? >> Yeah. I'll take a picture out before I touch it. >> Something woke me up. >> Did you hear something? >> Something woke me up. >> Okay. >> I stepped over the side of the bed and there was a body laying on the floor. I expected >> Okay. Yeah. [Music] >> Do you know what she'd be here for? >> Paid to work bank account numbers. I have no idea what >> Okay, I guess we'll check that bag. See if anything in there is yours. >> Yes. >> 37. You can close that window. >> I also know it's a hammer on the steps and I want to ask about that. >> 3705. Where did you say the hammer was? >> Steps. Last step before the door. >> All right. Have a seat. Are those tight? Hold on. You just want to make sure they're locked. So, so they don't tighten up on you. This >> is not my normal life. >> So, you are in custody. I'm going to read you Miranda rights. Okay. >> Okay. >> Nicole, you have been you have the right to remain silent. Do you understand each of these rights I just explained to you? >> I do. >> Having these rights in mind, do you wish to talk to me now? I'm just hoping um this mistake won't completely I know I did something bad after the funeral. My aunt tried to help her. She thinks they stole from her when they were just trying to get her affairs in order. >> Okay. >> She's progressively cut off the family. >> Can I stop you quick? Yeah. >> What's your relationship to her? >> Stepmother. >> Stepmother. >> Okay. >> But she's got Alzheimer's and she's gotten I I know this doesn't help. just going to prove the point, but she's gotten paranoid and things roll out to get her and won't let anyone in the house. I just wanted to get a couple of my dad's momentos and that's all. >> Okay. So, what kind of momentos? >> Got a couple pictures and maybe one of his shirts. >> How'd you get in the house tonight? >> That window. >> The window. Okay. Which window? >> Where the bag was. >> The bag. I I didn't go back there find it. So, what's in the bag? >> Couple laptops. your laptops or someone else's? >> My laptops. >> Okay. Nothing else in there. >> Uh, water. >> Water. >> I used to be here all the time. Okay. >> When's the last time you're here? >> I got the RP. >> Last time I was here, October or November. >> Okay. >> And then she just got progressively more. >> Did you see it? >> The hammer out there on the >> Oh, I had a hammer. >> Oh, you had a hammer there? >> That one was mine? >> That's yours? Okay. For protection? Yeah. >> I know it's your bedroom. Was there anything missing it from there? >> I thought she was >> I don't like I know it's her personal space, so >> she was laying right here. >> I'll go take a look at that bag. >> I'll get the adrenaline pumping. Um, so the only thing I found in that bag was two laptops. Do you have a laptop in here? >> I have two laptops that have it unplugged. Mine and my husband's. >> You have two laptops. >> I had to. Um I Where they at? I don't know. >> Do you want to go look for them? You know where they were at? >> No, I don't even know. I'm also not >> Do you know what they look like? >> They're just little laptops. >> Would you know if I showed you? >> Maybe. >> Okay, I'll go get them. What else? >> Um I have a I call it the tin box. It's a metal steel gray box that's always had all the legal documents in it. >> Okay. >> That's what they broke into before her and her had her aunt do it and stole a bunch of stuff out of there. And so I was just looking for that. I can't find that anywhere. But uh >> just want to put the knife away for me. >> So what got you to the stage where you thought this was >> um the ashes? I think >> the ashes. >> My cousin remember and my wife drove all the way out here to get the ashes for an agreement. >> Okay. >> Just to get here to be told um no never mind. >> And so you're here to get >> sent pictures and ashes. Well, the ashes so the ashes got buried before anyone got them. I just wanted to get a couple things before anything else gets >> tried to talk to her before this boyfriend. >> We had a fight over the ashes situation and she at least right now wouldn't talk to me. I It's just gotten progressively worse. >> How long has it been since you last talked to her? >> Um >> All right. So, right now you're under arrest for burglary. Okay. >> Even if I didn't take anything. You broke broke into the house with an intent to commit a crime. So that's burglary. I mean, you're definitely dressed for it and I understand your situation, but you still can't. I understand. >> I mean, there's there's other other ways to try to go through it. >> The door and on trying to get in. >> She Miranda. >> Yeah. >> All right. >> Hi. >> What's your name? >> Nicole. >> Are those laptops in your backpack yours? >> Yes. >> Okay. She's saying she's missing two laptops. I'm I can show you one. It's got my kids Minecraft game on it. >> What's the other one for? >> Um I have one for work. >> Okay. >> And then she's saying something about 10 bucks. It was in question last time. So >> I literally had just got in the house. I hadn't had time to do anything. >> Okay. >> I'm clearly not good at this, but >> yeah, >> I I know this sounds like an excuse. She has Alzheimer's. She's been misplacing things. I can show you texts going back months saying, you know, things are missing, this and that. >> I'm just asking. So, um, it's not a reason to break anybody's house. >> No, no, that wasn't my intention. >> All righty. I got an ID, but I don't know if it means anything, but she's a state senator. >> Yeah. All right, I'm back. The laptops, the story she gave me. It's pretty good. for work and her kids, but it's going into our evidence. So, if something does change, we'll get it back to you. >> Okay. >> Um, so last night she was after papers like, can I just ask the significance of >> when the two aunts came here, they took all kinds of legal forms. I had my husband just died. I had the tin box sitting right now here cuz I was going through it >> trying to find out what I was supposed to do cuz when I was totally off the box was wide open and when I came out there were papers and stuff scattered all over the floor and the two girls were both walking out with Nancy and Cindy with papers down the front sidewalk to their vehicle and I said where you going where what do you got? They said, "It's okay, Carol. Don't worry. We're just trying to help you and get this legal business all help straightened out or we know you're upset." >> Do you know why she would want those papers? Like, what would benefit her from having those papers? >> She um my husband didn't have an actual will. >> Oh, okay. >> She >> So, you think it's for like >> inheritance stuff? >> Yes. She It was bank papers. So, it's all bank papers basically. >> Yep. I might have to keep going cuz there's another act of burglary. So, >> thank you. >> So, there's a discrepancy with the laptops. Are you able to sign into those laptops? >> I'm sorry. >> Will you be able to sign into those laptops? >> Yes. >> Okay. There's the first one. >> Okay. How come it has Carol's name on it? It was one that she had given me. >> Okay. >> Way back when to use for the kids. >> Well, she's missing two laptops. That's what she said. So, I'm taking this laptop. How about this one? >> Okay. That one's got your name on it. Okay. That one will stay with your property, but I'm taking this one. >> That's fine. >> Did you try shoving that backpack out and it didn't go out? I want to answer your questions. >> You don't have to. Like you understood you understood your rights. So maybe I should. >> Okay. It's okay. Put you back in here. Appreciate you working with that. So >> co. >> Nicole Mitchell, who has served as a Minnesota state senator first elected in 2023 and before was a lieutenant colonel in the Air National Guard, was charged with first-degree burglary, which is a felony, as well as possession of burglary tools. Mitchell was a Minnesota state senator at the time of her arrest and refused to resign after the incident. She accused her mother-in-law of suffering from paranoia about break-ins and sility. She also refused the release of the body cam footage. After her arrest, she posted on social media changing her story that she claimed in the body cam footage. Instead of saying she was there to take possession of her father's momentos, her social media post claims she was there to simply check on her stepmother due to her health issues and she startled her, essentially putting the blame on the stepmother's medical problems. This, however, doesn't line up with the fact that she was wearing the most cliche burglar outfit she possibly could have. She then put out a statement saying she has no intention of resigning from her seat in the Senate. However, in mid July 2025, things took an unexpected turn for her. >> New today, a Minnesota state senator found guilty of burglarizing her stepmother's home has officially resigned. This is Nicole Mitchell. Police body cam video shows the moment officers found her in her stepmom's basement dressed in all black in the middle of the night. She testified during her trial she was checking on her stepmom, not stealing from her. A jury disagreed, finding her guilty. Today on her Facebook page, Mitchell thanked her family, friends, and constituents who quote trusted her to work on their behalf. She says it's been an honor to serve Minnesota and her community. >> Ultimately, more than a year later after the arrest, she was unanimously convicted by a jury, and at that point, she resigned her seat. Governor Tim Walls has issued a special election on November 4th, 2025 for an opportunity to fill Mitchell's seat. Mitchell's sentencing date has been set for September 10th, 2025 at 10 a.m. in Becker County District Court in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota. >> She's a senator. >> Yeah. Was >> was or is currently. She isn't after this. >> There's one more betrayal that never makes the news. Some criminals kick indoors, but others find ways to slide around them. And that's what make this kind of act so dangerous because it's wrapped in enough subtlety to compute the possibly weak-minded. But the strong know better. And now the world is watching. No matter what position you hold, no matter what office you once occupy when you dress like a thief, act like a thief, and search for something you're not entitled to. You don't get to walk away like it was nothing. Accountability isn't supposed to be optional, and it isn't supposed to care about job titles, family names, or political power. Because if the law only applies to the powerless, it's not justice. It's just a performance. And no one cares about what your LinkedIn says. Because real justice shows up in uniform, not in the suit. And in this country, we released a version we should be fighting for.