Category: kifi-local-news

Seth Ratliff

REXBURG, Idaho (KIFI) — A Madison County grand jury has indicted Ryler Jensen, 28, and Anthony Dean Wilson, 33, on charges connected to the brutal 2021 home invasion and shooting death of Ralph Brian. The indictments were handed down on Friday, marking “a step forward in a years-long investigation,” Sheriff Ron Ball told reporters on Wednesday.

Ralph and Karen Brian were attacked in their mobile home at 340 North 12th West, widely known as the Boathouse Trailer Court, near Rexburg on the morning of September 20, 2021. Ralph was shot in the head by an intruder and later died from his injuries in a local hospital. His wife, Karen, was stabbed multiple times but survived the ordeal.

Previous Arrest and Ongoing Investigation

Pierre Lake, Mugshot 2021

Authorities later arrested Pierre Lake of Jefferson County, who was 18 at the time of the crime. Lake initially pleaded not guilty but changed his plea in October 2023, admitting guilt to the murder of Ralph Brian and the attempted murder of Karen Brian. In January 2024, Lake was sentenced to a fixed term of 30 years in prison.

Pierre Lake sentencing, January 2024

Despite Lake’s conviction, Sheriff Ball stated, “At the time of that event, the investigators involved, we always believed there were more participants in that crime. So this case has been active since.”

On Wednesday, the Sheriff explained that new information surfaced in 2023, ultimately leading to the recent indictments. He says Madison County Detectives dedicated hundreds of hours to interviews and executed multiple search warrants to gather evidence in the case.

Charges and Bail Set

Jensen and Wilson have both been charged with First-Degree Murder and Conspiracy to Commit First-Degree Murder. A bail of $1 million has been set for each defendant.

Both men are currently being held on separate charges. Wilson is in jail on charges out of Teton County, including previous charges of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder. Jensen was arrested in July 2024 for allegedly attempting to traffic drugs in the Hawthorne Elementary School parking lot.

Sheriff Ball extended his gratitude to the Rexburg Police Department, Fremont County Sheriff’s Office, Teton County Sheriff’s Office, Idaho Falls Police, and the Madison/Fremont County multijurisdictional special response team for their continued support throughout the investigation.

All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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Phillip Willis

REXBURG, Idaho (KIFI) — Exit 333 experienced a brief closure Tuesday night as third party contractors brought in by the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) installed overhead sign structures in preparation to mount traffic signage. ITD’s vision for the Rexburg exits is nearing completion with this project underway.

Crews started work around 2 p.m. to prepare for the project, and closed Exit 333 at 8 p.m. to traffic coming into the city.

The closure was planned to last until 11 p.m., but work will continue throughout Wednesday. The signs will be going up between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., with expected traffic delays due to one lane road closures on the exit off-ramps. These delays could be up to 15 minutes.

Exits 332 and 333 had been previously closed in May for overnight work. That’s when construction crews drilled 18-foot foundational holes for the poles supporting these new signs. ITD elaborated on this step in a news release.

“The foundation for the bridge and cantilever posts that will hold the large overhead signs has to be particularly deep,” said Resident Engineer Curtis Calderwood. “We want them to be secure and have integrity in the wind. This is pretty well the last holdout for getting the exits truly finished.”

The latest road updates can be found on the Idaho 511 app and at 511.idaho.gov.

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Seth Ratliff

TETON COUNTY, Idaho (KIFI) — A man and woman are in custody following a drug seizure near Henderson Canyon that uncovered numerous firearms and trafficking quantities of methamphetamine and other illicit drugs.

On Monday, June 16, at approximately 6:30 AM, Teton County Sheriff’s deputies executed a search warrant at the home. Two people were in the home at the time, identified as Adam Reid and Meghann Wagoner. During the search, authorities reportedly discovered 17 firearms, as well as trafficking amounts of methamphetamine, marijuana, psilocybin mushrooms, and various narcotics paraphernalia.

Reid and Wagoner have both been charged with trafficking methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, and possession of marijuana. Additionally, Reid faces a charge of possession of psilocybin mushrooms with intent to deliver.

Adam Reid has been booked into the Jefferson County Jail, while Meghann Wagoner is being held at the Bonneville County Jail.

All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Editor’s note: The story was updated to say the two were found in the home.

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Sam Ross

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI)– Pocatello Parks and Rec is addressing online complaints of dry grass around the city and in the Mountain View Cemetery.

According to Parks and Rec and a post on the City of Pocatello Facebook page on Sunday, June 15, the city is aware of the dry grass and has repaired leaking sprinkler lines and timers causing dry grass in the area. People can expect to see greener grass in the next week.

The Mountain View Cemetery is currently undergoing a major waterline replacement project, which is affecting some sprinkler systems and could last through the summer.

For more information and updates, click HERE.

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Ariel Jensen

REXBURG, Idaho (KIFI)– Dozens joined the special needs lunch at Potter Park in Rexburg, hosted by the Rexburg Police Department. Those who came out got to eat hot dogs with cops, ride in golf carts, and a fan favorite was getting to drive a Segway.

Juan Leyva of Rexburg attended the event with a group. When asked what he thought of the event, he said, “I think hanging out with them, talking to them, getting to know them.” That was the goal of the Rexburg police department; they wanted to get to know the people in the area with special needs.

The Rexburg police department says they host this every year, and it’s a great way to serve the community. 

“The biggest thing, I think, is just that they know us. They know that we’re here for them. We’re willing to help them. We interact with them. I think just having that connection, knowing that they have the support from us and that we understand, and what needs they have. So it’s it’s not only for them, but it’s also for us as officers,” said Chief Joshua Rhodes.

A lot of the attendees told local news 8 they had so much fun at this event that they plan to do it again in the years to come. 

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Seth Ratliff

POWER COUNTY, Idaho (KIFI) — K9 Zeus of the Power County Sheriff’s Office just got a major upgrade in safety for patrolling the streets. The loyal four-legged officer of the Sheriff’s Office has been outfitted with a bullet and stab protective vest from the non-profit Vested Interest in K9s, Inc.

According to a post by the Sheriff’s Office, K9 Zeus’s custom-fitted vest was sponsored by Dacra Tech of Itasca, IL, and embroidered with the sentiment ‘This gift of protection provided by Dacra Tech.’

Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. has provided over 6,120 vests valued at $6.9 million to K9s in all 50 states.

For more information on the program, click HERE.

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Sam Ross

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI)– The Idaho State University Robotics Club will return to the SkillsUSA student workforce development championships in Atlanta, Georgia, next week to defend its national title in electronics.

ISU Robotics Club student Joshua Makuch won the national gold medal in the electronic technologies category at the championship last year. Earlier this year, ISU Robotics Club members swept the state competition in electronics and related math, placing in the top three spots in both categories, and qualified for another round at the national level against hundreds of competitors from universities across the country.

“I couldn’t be more proud of them,” said Brody Holyoak, senior clinical instructor for ISU’s Robotics Program. “I like to push my students, and this is a great way to help push them to get to something that’s like, ‘this isn’t just the end of a test, it isn’t just a section, it isn’t just this module, it isn’t just this semester.’ This is kind of the culmination of everything that we teach here in the program.”

Holyoak said the team will leave for the national competition on Sunday, where they will compete for the whole week and return to Pocatello on Saturday, June 28.

For more information, you can visit the Idaho State University website.

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Sam Ross

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI)– The Idaho State Board of Education is holding a regular Board meeting at the ICCU Alumni Center on the Idaho State University campus this week.

The meeting started on Tuesday morning with an executive session to conduct performance evaluations of the presidents of Idaho’s public four-year universities. Following the executive session, an open session will start at 1:30 p.m. and continue to Wednesday, June 18, starting at 9 a.m.

Agenda items for the meeting include a bond request from the University of Idaho to fund student housing projects, consideration of contract extensions for three presidents of Idaho institutions, and discussion on strengthening university dual credit programs across the state.

For a full agenda for the meeting, click HERE. The regular Board meeting will be livestreamed HERE.

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News Team

IDAHO/WYOMING (KIFI) — Up to 22 million acres of public land in Idaho and nearly 15 million acres in Wyoming could be sold off if a controversial proposal in Congress moves forward. The legislation, introduced by Senator Mike Lee (R-Utah), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, as part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, would sell BLM and Forest Service Land across 11 states to reduce the national deficit.

“This is President Trump’s agenda: cut the Green New Scam, reduce the deficit, and unleash American energy,” said Chairman Lee in a press release earlier this month. “We’re cutting billions in unused Biden-era climate slush funds, opening up energy and resource development, turning federal liabilities into taxpayer value, while making housing more affordable for hardworking American families. This is how we make government smaller, freer, and work for Americans.”

The proposal to Senate Republicans’ budget reconciliation bill would require 2.2-3.3 million acres of public land across 11 western states to be sold off over the next five years. The legislation has gained notable backlash and concern from the Greater Yellowstone Coalition and Idaho Conservation League.

“Public lands belong to all Americans and are vitally important to the communities of Greater Yellowstone and other iconic western landscapes,” said Greater Yellowstone Coalition Executive Director Scott Christensen. “Our national public lands are not a luxury, they’re our legacy. These are outdoor spaces that connect us to each other, fuel the economies of western states, and provide clean drinking water to millions of Americans downstream. Once these lands are sold off, they’re gone forever.”  

The Wilderness Society, a group organized in 1935 to permanently protect America’s public lands, has created the following chart to illustrate the total amount of land that would be for sale in each state.

For the Wilderness Society’s interactive map of the potential lands that could be sold, click HERE.

Chairman Lee has indicated that the sale of land would “unlock underutilized federal land for affordable housing.”

In an interview with Idaho News 6, Justin Hayes, Executive Director of the Idaho Conservation League expressed his concerns over the potential sale, stating “You’ll lose access to these areas that you have taken your family to for years and so it’s really about keeping these public lands that we all treasure in public hands.”

The Idaho Conservation League and the Greater Yellowstone Coalition are urging residents in Idaho and Wyoming to contact their representatives and ask them to oppose the proposal as lawmakers continue to negotiate the budget package.

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News Team

MADISON COUNTY, Idaho (KIFI) — The Madison County Sheriff’s Office has released new details regarding Sunday’s stabbing incident along Highway 33, leading to the arrest of Daytona “Tony” Travis, 34, of Rexburg.

According to the Sheriff’s Office, their deputies, along with the Rexburg Police and Madison Fire Department, were called to the intersection of 6000 West and Highway 33, where they found a 34-year-old woman who had reportedly been stabbed. Her injuries were determined to be non-life-threatening, and she was transported to Madison Health for treatment. She has since been discharged.

Law enforcement identified 34-year-old Travis as a person of interest and issued a warrant for his arrest. He was caught by Idaho Falls Police along 16th Street in Idaho Falls on the following morning.

Travis has been charged with Aggravated Battery and Second-Degree Kidnapping. His bond has been set at $500,000.

In a statement released via a Facebook post, the Madison County Sheriff’s Office expressed gratitude for the collaborative effort: “The Madison County Sheriff’s Office extends sincere appreciation to the Idaho Falls Police Department, Rexburg Police Department, and members of the public for their cooperation and assistance in this matter.”

All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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