Meanwhile in Mankato (2): Inside the Murder Investigation

Dakota Spotlight: True Crime & Cold Case Investigations

James Wolner

Documentary, Society & Culture, True Crime

4.8 • 900 Ratings

🗓️ 13 November 2025

⏱️ 40 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

In the aftermath of Ray Dahms’s killing, Blue Earth County investigators launch a Minnesota murder investigation that soon points to a local teenager, Brian Lee Hendrickson. When they finally bring him in for questioning, Hendrickson shocks officers with a murder confession that seems to close the case almost as quickly as it began with the justice system. Episode 2 of Meanwhile in Mankato revisits those first tense hours of the Mankato Gas Station Murder and the community’s mourning for Ray Dahms, whose death left Rapidan searching for answers. Through careful investigative journalism, Dakota Spotlight explores how a small-town murder rippled across Minnesota, shaping perceptions of truth and accountability. A Dakota Spotlight true crime podcast where every answer reveals another question—and where justice proves far more elusive than anyone imagined. Meanwhile in Mankato was written, researched, edited, and produced by James Wolner. Additional research assistance by Mari Zoerb Hansen. Check out the full catalog and everything Dakota Spotlight: https://dakotaspotlight.com/ Get all episodes early, ad-free, and more. Subscribe to Spotlight PLUS: https://dakotaspotlight.com/spotlight-plus/ Sign up for the Dakota Spotlight newsletter: https://dakotaspotlight.com/newsletter/ Email: dakotaspotlight@gmail.com Facebook: https://facebook.com/groups/dakotaspotlight X/Twitter: @dakotaspotlight Instagram: @dakotaspotlight TikTok: @dakotaspotlight Bluesky: @dakotaspotlight.bsky.social YouTube: @dakotaspotlightpodcast4800 Proudly produced by Six Horse Media: info@sixhorsemedia.com Advertise your podcast or brand in Dakota Spotlight episodes: info@sixhorsemedia.com All content in this podcast, including audio, interviews, and soundscapes, is the property of Six Horse Media. Any unauthorized use, reproduction, or rebroadcast of this material without the express written consent of Six Horse Media is strictly prohibited. For permissions or inquiries, please contact info@sixhorsemedia.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	True Story Media.
0:07.5	I hope you're enjoying Meanwhile in Mancato, lies, silence, and murder in Minnesota.
0:12.7	If waiting a week between episodes isn't your thing, you can skip the wait and hear the rest of the season right now, ad-free with Spotlight Plus.
0:21.0	And you'll also unlock bonus content,
0:23.2	photos, documents, and more from this story.
0:25.8	Join for $5 a month at DakotaSpotlight.com
0:29.1	or write in your Apple or Spotify app.
0:31.5	And thank you for helping keep independent storytelling alive.
0:35.9	You're listening to Dakota Spotlight.
0:37.9	My name is James Wulner.
0:39.6	Welcome back to Meanwhile in Mankato,
0:43.1	Lies, Silence, and Murder in Minnesota.
0:46.8	This is episode two.
0:48.5	Thank you. It's 2 a.m. early Sunday morning, September 26, 1965, and out at the crossroads, the Rothfork gas station glitters against the dark cornfield.
1:26.0	Now and then a car rolls in for gas,
1:28.6	and when it does,
1:29.7	18-year-old Ray Dombs jumps to it,
1:33.2	tanking up, checking oil,
1:35.7	scrubbing windshields.
1:41.4	I have tried and thoroughly enjoyed a remarkable new canned hair.
1:45.1	During the long stretches of nothing, Ray sits with his guitar strumming through new chord progressions,
1:51.4	maybe testing out a popular new song he's heard on the radio.
	...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Previous episode | Next episode

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from James Wolner, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of James Wolner and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.