The first-degree murder that happened in 1996 is still fresh in the minds of those who witnessed it. Now, let’s take a closer look at the article and learn more about the victim.
Henry Laverne Patterson was convicted of three counts of first-degree premeditated murder for the June 27 or 28, 1996 homicides of his ex-girlfriend’s mother, Ida Strouth, Ida’s 9-year-old son, Jacob Strouth, and the Strouths’ 13-year-old neighbor, Jeremiah Sponsel.
In 1994, Patterson began dating Sarah Strouth, Ida’s daughter. Patterson and Sarah subsequently had a daughter together. Patterson was physically abusive to Sarah, and after several unsuccessful attempts to leave Patterson, Sarah moved into her own apartment on June 15, 1996. Sarah took their daughter with her and refused to tell Patterson her new address.
The recordings he saw showed Ida Strouth, her son, and the neighbor boy enjoying themselves with their friends and family. “I’m looking forward to summer and going swimming,” Jacob Strouth, 9 years old, said on the “Memories of Ida and Jacob” tape shown in Hennepin County District Court, which was played in the courtroom.
Following this, Patterson of Richfield was sentenced to three consecutive life sentences in prison by Judge Thorwald Anderson. His eligibility for release will not be restored until he has served 90 years in imprisonment.
Ida Strouth Murder – What Happened
Patterson had voiced frustration over not being able to locate Sarah and their young daughter at a number of different times. He struck Ida many times and threatened her with a gun when she refused to answer. Ida eventually relented.
Police found all three victims in the basement of the townhome. The time of death was estimated at between midnight and 1:00 a.m. on June 28, 1996.
The cause of death of each victim was complex homicidal violence. The victims’ injuries included knife wounds, blunt force injuries to the face, head wounds caused by a hammer, and strangulation. None of the gruesome details of the murders were made public until the trial.
At the crime scene, police found several impressions consistent with a bloody, gloved hand. Police also found two sets of footprints in the basement.
One set of footprints was from an unknown source. The other set of footprints matched a pair of shoes later seized from Patterson’s truck; these footprints were also consistent with an imprint on Ida’s face. None of Patterson’s or Brayboy’s fingerprints were found in the townhome.
Several people, including Sarah, immediately told police that Patterson might have committed the murders. Police arrested Patterson on the evening of June 28.
At the time of his arrest, Patterson had a small spot of blood on his ear. There was such a minute amount of DNA in the blood that no definite identification of the blood source could be made.
However, tests showed the blood to be a mixture of two or more persons’ blood, and neither Patterson nor Jeremiah could be ruled out as possible sources.
