Minnesota Senator Nicole Mitchell Charged with Burglary After Breaking into Stepmother's Home

The Incident

• 🚨 A Minnesota woman, later identified as State Senator Nicole Mitchell, broke into her stepmother's home on April 24, 2024, after being left out of her late father's will.
• 💡 Mitchell claimed she was trying to retrieve personal items, including her father's belongings and ashes, because her stepmother was not responding to her calls.
• 🔦 She was found by police in the basement, dressed in black and using a flashlight with a sock over it, leading to her arrest for burglary.

The 911 Call and Police Response

• 📞 The stepmother called 911 reporting an intruder, initially unaware it was Nicole, describing sounds of breaking glass and movement in the basement.
• 🔪 The stepmother stated she was armed with a steak knife for self-defense while waiting for the police to arrive.
• 👮 Officers arrived and located Mitchell hiding under the stairs in the basement, where she was apprehended.

Mitchell's Defense and Motives

• 🗣️ Mitchell stated she was trying to get a couple of her dad's things because he wouldn't talk to her anymore, and denied stealing documents.
• 💔 She mentioned a dispute over her father's ashes and a strained relationship with her stepmother, suggesting the break-in was a desperate attempt to retrieve sentimental items.
• 🎖️ Mitchell, a military commander and State Senator, expressed hope that this mistake would not ruin her career, highlighting her service record.

Evidence and Legal Proceedings

• 💻 Police found two laptops in Mitchell's backpack, which she claimed were hers, though one had the stepmother's name on it.
• ⚖️ Despite her claims and defense, Mitchell was charged with felony first-degree burglary and possession of burglary tools.
• 🗳️ Mitchell took her case to trial and was found guilty by a jury on both charges after just three hours of deliberation.

Aftermath and Sentencing

• 😔 Following the guilty verdict, Nicole Mitchell resigned from her Minnesota Senate seat.
• 🗓️ She is scheduled to be sentenced in September and faces a minimum of six months in jail.
• 📰 The case was covered by Law&Crime Network's Angenette Levy on the show Crime Fix, detailing the body-worn camera footage and legal proceedings.