The House on Sweet and Seventh (5): A Sick Salute – The Erickstad Family Murder in Bismarck

Dakota Spotlight: True Crime & Cold Case Investigations

James Wolner

Documentary, Society & Culture, True Crime

4.8 • 900 Ratings

🗓️ 15 August 2020

⏱️ 50 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

The murders of Barbara and Gordon Erickstad in 1998 remain one of Bismarck, North Dakota’s darkest true crime stories. Episode 5, A Sick Salute, follows the arrest of Robert Lawrence and Brian Erickstad after a bloody shoe linked them to the killings. While the fugitives awaited trial, the East Sweet crew ramped up their support in disturbing, “Manson-like” fashion — with sick salutes, love letters, and shocking disrespect toward the victims’ families. Former detectives Bob Haas and Lloyd Halvorson reflect on what this crime meant, who may have been involved that night, and whether others still hold answers. Dakota Spotlight continues its investigative journalism into a small town murder that left scars across Bismarck. 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

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0:00.0	Hey folks, it's James here, host and producer of this show, Dakota Spotlight.
0:03.8	I've got some exciting news to share with you.
0:06.4	I've just launched a brand new podcast called The Sleep Retreat.
0:11.6	The Sleep Retreat is designed to help you relax, unwind, and drift off to sleep.
0:17.1	With soothing soundscapes and calming original stories by yours truly,
0:22.1	it's the perfect escape for a busy mind.
0:25.1	You can find The Sleep Retreat wherever you listen to podcasts
0:27.9	or head over to the sleepretreatpodcast.com.
0:32.9	This podcast contains content that some may find disturbing.
0:37.3	Discretion is advised.
0:47.3	Previously on Dakota Spotlight.
0:53.3	It was a difficult time. It was a difficult time.
0:55.0	It was a difficult group of people to deal with.
1:00.0	What happened to Barbara and Gordon Erickstead was brutal beyond imagination.
1:13.6	This isn't like any everyday conversation.
1:17.6	You know, I just can't buy that you can't remember what you've heard yet.
1:22.6	18-year-old Brian J. Erickstad and 27-year-old Robert R. Lawrence have been charged with class
1:29.1	double A murder for the deaths of Erickstead's adoptive parents, Gordon and Barbara Erickstad
1:34.8	of Bismarck. And then to be so callously discarded. And the reasons, no reason here.
1:46.2	There was no justification.
1:56.2	I suppose the fate of a runaway is that when you flee from one place to another,
2:00.8	you concern
	...

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