Bemidji Woman Sentenced to Life in Prison for Murder of Roy Lovelace

Accident – death – Obituary News : BEMIDJI — A woman from Bemidji, Cora Lee Quaderer, has been sentenced to life in prison for the murder of Roy Lovelace in August 2022. This comes after Quaderer pleaded guilty to a single count of first-degree murder for the incident that resulted in Lovelace’s death.

According to Beltrami County Attorney David Hanson, the incident occurred on August 30, 2022, when the Beltrami County Sheriff’s Office, along with the Leech Lake Police Department, the Bemidji Police Department, and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, responded to a call for a camper on fire on Kappes Lane near Cass Lake.

Upon extinguishing the fire, authorities discovered a body inside the camper, later identified as 30-year-old Roy Lovelace of Bena. Through their investigation, law enforcement learned that Quaderer had been seen arguing with Lovelace outside the camper. Witnesses reported seeing her pour gasoline on the camper and set it ablaze while Lovelace was trapped inside.

Witnesses also stated that they heard Quaderer yelling at Lovelace, threatening to destroy parts or all of the structure if he didn’t let her in. They smelled a strong odor of gasoline near the front of the camper and observed Quaderer lighting a piece of cloth and throwing it towards the front door, which immediately ignited and quickly engulfed the camper. Lovelace attempted to escape but was unable to, resulting in his tragic death.

After an extensive search, Quaderer was eventually located by the Brooklyn Center Police Department at a gas station in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota. She was initially charged with second-degree murder and first-degree arson. The case was presented to a grand jury, which indicted her with first-degree murder.

Quaderer appeared before the Honorable Shari Schluchter and entered a guilty plea. During the plea hearing, she admitted that the evidence against her was sufficient for a jury to find her guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. As a result, she was sentenced to life in prison and was remanded to the Commissioner of Corrections.

Quaderer has a history of prior convictions for felony drug possession in Minnesota. She also has multiple convictions for gross misdemeanors and misdemeanors, including theft and providing false information to peace officers. At the time of the crime, she was on supervised probation for fifth-degree possession of a controlled substance in Cass County. Additionally, she had been charged with fifth-degree possession of a controlled substance in Hubbard County but failed to appear for a mandatory court appearance, resulting in an outstanding warrant for her arrest.

Beltrami County Attorney David Hanson expressed his condolences to Roy Lovelace’s family and extended his gratitude to all the law enforcement agencies involved in investigating the crime, including the Beltrami County Sheriff’s Office, Leech Lake Police Department, Bemidji Police Department, Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, Minnesota Fire Marshal’s Office, and Brooklyn Center Police Department. He also thanked the staff of the Beltrami County Attorney’s Office for their dedication in handling the case.

In conclusion, Cora Lee Quaderer has been sentenced to life in prison for the murder of Roy Lovelace. The tragic incident occurred when Quaderer set fire to a camper with Lovelace trapped inside. With her guilty plea, Quaderer accepted responsibility for her actions, and she will now face the consequences of her crime..