Veronica "Voni" Safranski went missing after attending a Halloween party at Mick's Bar in Warren, Minnesota. She was dressed as Pocahontas. She left behind her coat, purse and cigarettes. She was last seen getting into a black Dodge pickup owned by Kevin Skjerven.
29 days after leaving the bar, Voni's belt was found on a road 1/2 mile south of County Road's 8 & 6, just a few miles north of Newfolden, Minnesota, and just three miles north of where Kevin Skjerven had been living.
In late 2024, Footsteps in the Dark took an interest in the case and uncovered hundreds of pages of criminal and court documents pertaining to past allegations and convictions pertaining to Kevin Skjerven. These are available on Patreon.com.
Our investigation shows that Skjerven's history of convictions and allegations fits the pattern of a serial offender. He was once and over-the-road trucker and it is believed that there are more victims. He was known to travel west to Washington, as well as to Chicago. All victims are encouraged to reach out. The tiniest detail may help break this case.
There are several discrepancies in the reports. Is it a 1977 Dodge Ram, a 1997 Dodge Ram...or something else? I've been told it was several years old when it was searched in 1996. However, a student mechanic worked on it days later, and said he thought it was late 80's and it may have been a step side model. This vehicle was seen outside of Mick's Bar and an off duty officer saw Voni leave with Skjerven and get into it. Additionally, boots were confiscated for testing. According to sources, a blonde hair was found inside. This is the same vehicle that was reported in the Cathy Mock incident in which Skjerven was acquitted in 1997.
In 1987, Skjerven was charged with sexual assualt for an incident in Spring Lake Park, Minnesota. He told the victim he needed a ride to his truck nearby. Skjerven was known to be an over-the-road trucker. With a pattern of criminal sexual charges and allegations beginning in 1974, it is likely someone else may have encountered him along the way. According to one person interviewed, Skjerven claimed he'd left DNA all over the country.
In 1977, Skjerven was accused by a 15-year old victim of rape just east of Carpenters Corner. She told investigators he asked her if she wanted to ride in his new car. Instead of a short ride, he took her on a ride through Strandquist, Argyle, Warren and other small towns, stopping in Strandquist to buy gas. During the trip, he took a hunting knife and showed it to her, then laid it on the dash. He then made advances that she brushed away, with Skjerven saying, "The last one that told me 'no' is dead." The next day, Skjerven left for Washington state. The case was dismissed in 1978. It appears the case was not taken as seriously as it should have been.
A high resolution image of the belt of Voni's costume found just south of County Roads 8 & 6 north of Newfolden, and just a few miles from Skjerven's trailer house at the time of Voni's disappearance.
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Our mission is to find Voni before the 30th anniversary of her disappearance. Her family and friends have waited too long for justice and answers!
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