MOORHEAD, Minn. – An 18-year-old man has been charged with second-degree murder following the brutal stabbing and killing of his 14-year-old ex-girlfriend in a park in Minnesota. Isaac Arthur Arndt allegedly attacked Jaelyn Walker multiple times before dragging her body to a river.

Arndt walked into the Clay County Law Enforcement Center late on the night of Aug. 19, covered in blood and sporting two cuts on his fingers. According to a probable cause statement, Arndt initially told police that he and Walker had been accosted by an unknown assailant in Gooseberry Park. He claimed he fled while the attacker pursued Walker.

However, Jaelyn’s disappearance was quickly noticed by her mother, who tracked her location using Snapchat. Officers found her body near a bicycle trail on Elm Street and 6th Avenue South, hidden in a wooded area and suffering from multiple stab wounds. Investigators also discovered a knife and a significant amount of blood at the scene.

During a subsequent interview with detectives, Arndt’s initial story began to unravel. Post-Miranda, he revealed that he and Walker had been romantically involved for several months but had recently broken up. He said they met in the park, where Walker allegedly demanded information about his new girlfriend. When he refused, tensions escalated, resulting in a violent confrontation.

Arndt admitted that he stabbed Walker approximately 13 times after she supposedly attacked him. Devastatingly, he confessed that after realizing she was still alive and suffering, he slit her throat, hugged her, and delivered a final stab wound to her back. He then dragged her body to the river and left it there.

A search of Arndt’s home in Fargo uncovered additional incriminating evidence, including bloodstained socks, a towel hidden in a kitchen cupboard, and bloodstained toilet paper in the bathroom. Security footage from Gooseberry Park further implicated Arndt, capturing him leaving the wooded area on a scooter around the time of Walker’s death.

Witnesses corroborated seeing two individuals matching Arndt and Walker’s descriptions in the park on the night of the incident. Text messages found on Walker’s phone revealed that the two had arranged to meet at the park around 7:30 p.m. that evening.

Arndt was arrested in Fargo and subsequently extradited back to Minnesota. A judge set his bond at $1 million, and his next court appearance is scheduled for Sept. 19.

Jaelyn Walker’s family has been devastated by her loss. Describing her as a “beautiful, blue-eyed, fearless, and feisty girl,” her obituary paints a picture of a spirited teenager who loved singing and cherished her closest friends and family. Her fondness for animals, especially her cats, and her aspirations inspired by her love for Anime were notable highlights of her young life.

Her family also recalled her favorite activities, including spending time at the lake with her extended family and enjoying simple comforts like macaroni and tomato juice. In May 2022, Walker made the significant decision to be baptized, a moment her family holds dear as they remember her.