Previously reported on February 2, 2025, the body that was found along Ravenna Trail just past the bridge over the Vermillion River near the Hastings Dog Park. Identified as William “Ike” Eickholt, age 74 of Denmark Township. According to the press release from the Washington County Sheriffs office, Eickholt was identified after the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension made a DNA match to one of Eickholt’s family members, and through supporting evidence including security camera images and personal effects.
Eickholt was found on the side of the road in the 1300 block of Ravenna Trail (10th Street). His cause of death is a gunshot wound to the head. The manner of death remain under investigation by the Hennepin County Medical Examiner’s Office. Eickholt had been identified as missing on Feb. 1 when investigators responded to multiple fires at his Denmark Township property.
Mitch Carmody, a local author, had befriended Eickholt after regularly seeing him walking along the road in the mornings.
"I would see him every Thursday around 7:30 a.m., always walking, wearing colorful, outlandish outfits," Carmody said, explaining his connection to Eickholt back in February. "He was a kind soul, and we talked a few times. I even gave him a book I wrote. He had an interesting life, but we never got the chance to truly sit down and talk about it before he passed."
Carmody is now looking to shine a light on the story in hopes of bringing justice to the case for Eickholt and to prevent this from happening to another diverse and unique person. On June 15, Carmody and others will gather at 11:00 a.m. in Prescott, Wisconsin’s Fredon Park to celebrate diversity and vulnerability. The event will be centered around bringing justice to Ike’s case. There will be music, speakers and an open mic session. 11:00 music will be provided by the Average Janes, Noon will feature liturgical music by Seth West with Pastor Melissa of Joy Lutheran speaking as a memorial to Ike. 1:00 will feature a Wendy Elizabeth singing Hallelujah. 1:30 will have speakers on inclusion, diversity, recovery and discovery with the closing of the event being sung by Michael Mahan around 2:30 p.m.
As the investigation continues, officials are asking the public for assistance:
• Residents and business owners in the areas surrounding 127th Street and Morgan Avenue between Manning Avenue/Highway 61 and St. Croix Trail South are asked to check their security cameras for anything suspicious between midnight on Saturday, Feb. 1, and 9:50 a.m. on Sunday, Feb. 2.
• Anyone with information about Eickholt’s activities leading up to Feb. 1, information about the Feb. 1 fires at his property, or who witnessed a vehicle at or near the property on Jan. 31 or Feb. 1.
• Anyone who witnessed a vehicle at or near the 1300 block of Ravenna Trail between midnight on Feb. 1, and 9:50 a.m. on Feb. 2. According to Commander Kyle Schenck of the Washington County Sheriff’s office, they do not believe the fire that occurred at Eickholt’s home in July and the fire that occurred with his truck on Feb. 1 are connected, but each are open and active investigations.
When previously asked about the death of Eickholt and if officials are looking at the death as a murder and/or a hate crime, he stated, “We are investigating any and all options in this case.”
Investigators ask that you contact the Hastings Police Department at 651-480-2300 or the Washington County Sheriff’s Office at 651-439-9381. No detail is too small to report.