Police arrest suspect in Bemidji-area woman’s disappearance

Police in northern Minnesota say they’ve discovered a burned body buried in a shallow grave in the search for a missing woman, and her ex-boyfriend and another man are facing murder charges.

The discovery of Downwind’s body comes after almost two months of investigation by multiple local, state, and federal agencies.

Marchello Anthony Cimmarusti, age 40 and Brandon Joseph Rossbach, age 31 have been arrested for their roles in this case.

Police say a third man, Christopher Davis, remains a person of interest in the case but has not been arrested.

Later, her ex-boyfriend said he’d seen her October 21, leaving his house on Stoner Avenue in Bemidji.

According to the Beltrami, MN county jail website, Cimmarusti was already being held on a domestic assault charge and was charged with second-degree murder in this case on December 7th.

A 4-feet deep grave was discovered a mile off of Balsam Road and 300 yards away from an ATV trail mid-afternoon Wednesday, Mastin said.

Bemidji and state authorities have said that foul play is suspected in the disappearance of the 32-year-old mother of five.

The body was located outside the original search area of Lake Bemidji State Park and Buena Vista State Forest.

Both Cimmarusti and Rossbach are scheduled to be arraigned Friday in Beltrami County District Court.

“We are thankful that Marchello came forward, because without him we wouldn’t have had this ending”, Dwa Weston, spokesperson for the Downwind family said.

“It’s bittersweet”, she said. “And as we move forward toward justice” said Westin.

Downwind is the granddaughter of American Indian Movement co-founder Dennis Banks.