Police Investigation Leads to Arrests in Three-Year-Old Missing Person’s Case in Crookston, Minnesota

CROOKSTON, Minn. — Law enforcement authorities may have made a breakthrough in a long-standing missing person’s case that has perplexed investigators for the past three years in northwest Minnesota. Two relatives of the missing man have been taken into custody, shedding new light on the mysterious disappearance.

Juan Deleon, 54, and his brother Abelardo Deleon, 52, have been apprehended and now face charges of conspiracy to commit murder, alongside multiple drug trafficking offenses. The brothers are scheduled to appear in court on Friday morning to face the allegations.

While none of the charges are directly linked to the disappearance of Frank Ramirez Jr., they are part of the ongoing investigation. Court documents reveal that Juan Deleon was questioned regarding the whereabouts of his stepson, identified by family members as Ramirez Jr.

The last known sighting of Ramirez Jr. occurred on March 19, 2020, at Juan Deleon’s residence on Hunter Street in Crookston. On that same day, Ramirez Jr. took to Facebook, expressing concerns about his stepfather’s betrayal. According to an informant, Ramirez Jr. appeared anxious about potential danger from “bad people” and expressed a desire to consult with the local drug task force.

A year later, Juan Deleon was questioned again about Ramirez Jr.’s disappearance. During the interview, Juan Deleon admitted to using methamphetamine with Ramirez Jr. However, he vehemently denied any involvement in his stepson’s death. The case took a significant turn earlier this month when another informant came forward, alleging that Juan Deleon and his brother Abelardo Deleon had conspired to kill an individual in Crookston the previous year.

The plan, as described by the informant, involved luring the intended victim to an apartment, administering drugs, and subsequently executing them. The Deleon brothers allegedly prepared the crime scene by placing a tarp on the floor to facilitate cleanup. It is believed that the targeted individual possessed knowledge about the Deleon brothers’ extensive drug operations spanning from Crookston to Grand Forks and Fargo, and even Mayville.

According to the informant, the Deleon brothers warned against investigating Ramirez Jr.’s disappearance, threatening potential harm to anyone who persisted in asking questions. While the charges of conspiracy to commit murder are related to this alleged plan, they are not directly connected to Ramirez Jr.’s suspicious vanishing.

Crookston police and prosecutors have chosen not to provide additional details about the case at this time. Nevertheless, Ramirez Jr.’s sisters express hope that their family is finally on the path to justice, and closer to discovering the truth behind their brother’s fate.

Matt Henson is an Emmy award-winning reporter, photographer, and editor for WDAY. He joined WDAY in 2019 after serving as the main anchor at WDAZ in Grand Forks for four years.