DETROIT LAKES, Minn. — An emotional Sen. Nicole Mitchell testified about her troubled relationship with her stepmother as she took the stand Thursday in her burglary trial.
Sen. Nicole Mitchell, DFL-Woodbury, takes the stand in her burglary trial.
Mitchell was charged with two felony burglary counts after she was arrested in her stepmother’s house in the early hours of April 22, 2024. On Thursday she told the jury about her relationship with her stepmother, Carol Mitchell, in the years before and after the death of her father and Carol Mitchell’s husband, Rod Mitchell.
Growing up, Carol Mitchell was another mother to Nicole Mitchell, she testified. Her biological mother had been a busy single mother.
“I mean, she was one of my parents,” Nicole Mitchell said.
Nicole Mitchell, a DFL lawmaker from Woodbury, was charged with first-degree burglary and possession of burglary or theft tools. If found guilty, Mitchell could face prison time. She has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Prosecutor Becker County Attorney Brian McDonald argues Nicole Mitchell entered Carol Mitchell’s house with the intent to steal. The defense counters that she entered the house to check on her stepmother, who has Alzheimer’s disease.
Earlier this week, investigators testified, the prosecution showed body camera footage from Nicole Mitchell’s arrest and the resulting investigation. The jury also heard from friends and relatives of Carol Mitchell who testified about Carol Mitchell’s fear of Nicole Mitchell. One of Nicole Mitchell’s aunts testified that Carol Mitchell’s communications became increasingly paranoid in the months following Rod Mitchell’s death.
Mitchell: Signs of Alzheimer’s disease
In her testimony Thursday, Nicole Mitchell said she first noticed signs of Alzheimer’s in her stepmother in 2020, when Carol Mitchell did not recall a conversation that had just happened. She said Carol Mitchell was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2022. Mitchell recounted experiences with other relatives who had the disease.
After Rod Mitchell’s death, in March 2023, some of Nicole Mitchell’s aunts stepped in to help Carol Mitchell, Nicole Mitchell said. At the same time, Carol Mitchell grew closer with family members on the other side of the family, with whom she had historically had rifts.
“She started cycling through people that she trusted,” Nicole Mitchell said.
As Rod Mitchell’s child, Nicole Mitchell’s name was on probate court papers as Carol Mitchell sorted out Rod Mitchell’s affairs. Nicole Mitchell said Carol Mitchell seemed paranoid that her name was on the documents.
One of Nicole Mitchell’s attorneys, Dane DeKrey, showed texts between Carol Mitchell and Nicole Mitchell from June 2023 in which each party was friendly with the other. Nicole Mitchell cried as she read the messages.
Rift in relationship
Nicole Mitchell recounted another text conversation with Carol Mitchell in March 2024. DeKrey showed the text messages, which regarded a scheduling conflict between Nicole Mitchell and Carol Mitchell for the interment of Rod Mitchell’s ashes.
The conversation showed Rod Mitchell’s interment was scheduled for a day when Nicole Mitchell could not be present because of legislative duties. In the texts, Carol Mitchell said the funeral home picked the date. Nicole Mitchell testified that she called the funeral home to confirm Carol Mitchell set the date and that other dates were available.
In the texts, Carol Mitchell accused Nicole Mitchell of always treating her with disdain, while Nicole Mitchell accused Carol Mitchell of treating her with annoyance.
Text messages showed Carol Mitchell declined to change the date, citing other people’s schedules. Carol Mitchell texted that she would mail a small fishing bobber-shaped container of ashes to Nicole Mitchell. Nicole Mitchell said she never contacted Carol Mitchell again after the exchange.
“I was feeling so emotionally beat up by that point,” said a tearful Nicole Mitchell.
Charges against the state senator were a point of contention in a divided Senate chamber during the past two legislative sessions. DFL leaders barred her from participating in committee assignments or party caucus meetings. Senate Republicans called for her resignation and unsuccessfully tried to oust her.
The felony burglary charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of at least six months in jail or a county workhouse, and a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $35,000 fine. Felony possession of burglary tools carries a maximum sentence of 3 years in prison and a $5,000 fine.
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