Severed Foot In Tote Found Near Mille Lacs Lake: 1 Charged With Murder

MILLE LACS COUNTY, MN — A 21-year-old Isle man has been charged with murder after a tote holding a severed foot and other human remains was discovered near Mille Lacs Lake.

Bradley A. Weyaus faces second-degree murder (with intent, not premeditated), one count of fleeing a police officer, and one count of interference with a dead body or scene of a death (conceal body). If convicted, he faces up to 40 years in prison.

The remains were identified as belonging to Rodney Pendegayosh Jr., 25, also of Isle

On Monday, authorities received a report of a missing man and learned that Weyaus may have been involved in their disappearance, according to the criminal complaint.

Weyaus had been spotted driving a white Saturn and carrying a storage container bound with bungee cords and industrial tape, investigators said.

On Tuesday, a public works crew was clearing an area on Twilight Road near Mille Lacs Lake when they discovered a tote in the ditch that was bound with bungee cords and industrial tape, according to authorities.

The crew tried to move it, but could not because of its weight and position in the ditch. When they opened the storage container, they found human remains including a severed foot, the criminal complaint states.

An investigator responded to the scene with their emergency lights activated. On the way there, a white Saturn going in the same direction refused to let the squad go by but instead sped up, the criminal complaint states.

The investigator recognized the description of the vehicle and requested backup to pursue the Saturn, authorities said.

Weyaus was eventually tracked down near Southport Road in Mille Lacs County, according to the criminal complaint. He was found hiding inside a building on a rural property and taken into custody on several outstanding arrest warrants and fleeing police, authorities said.

Investigators found two duffel bags and inside were a hammer, a hacksaw, and industrial tape, according to the criminal complaint.

Investigators also found a spent shotgun shell inside the Saturn, according to authorities. Several pellets possibly from buckshot shotgun shells were found in Pendegayosh's throat, according to the criminal complaint.

Police said Weyaus had been staying at a woman's home on Main Street in Isle with a storage container. Some carpet from the home had been removed, and it was later found bloodied in a nearby dumpster, according to authorities.

Investigators also said they found a handwritten note in the home, addressed to the woman.

The author of the note indicated remorse and sorrow for causing the woman trouble and stated that the author would be leaving for a long time due to their mistake, according to the criminal complaint. The author further stated that they would not allow themselves to be captured by law enforcement, authorities said.