Police Ask Community for Information in the Death of Maple Grove Woman

After a decade, police continue to search for answers into the death of Rebecca Nelson – a Maple Grove mother who died as a result of a hit and run accident near the Maple Grove Community Center in 2003. 

Police are asking for those that may have witnessed or have information about the incident to come forward. 

“We’re hoping it will trigger someone to remember or their guilt gets to them,” Detective Tanya Petz told Patch last year.

Details of the incident, according to police, are as follows: 

At approximately 7:30 p.m. Feb. 20, 2003, the Maple Grove Police responded to an call of a person down near the parking lot at the Maple Grove Community Center. Due to the nature if her injuries, police believe Nelson’s death was a result of a motor vehicle accident. 

Nelson had dropped off her son at a hockey game prior to the incident, Maple Grove Petz told Patch. She said there were no witnesses to the incident or the vehicle. Police were also unable to determine which direction the vehicle was traveling. 

“Over the past 10 years this incident has remained an active investigation, however the case remains unsolved,” according to the Maple Grove Police Department. 

Nelson’s family remains in the Maple Grove area, Petz told Patch in 2012, and is still supportive of the police department searching for information about her death. 

“We’re hoping we can come to some type of closure for the family,” Petz said. 

Those who may have witnessed the accident or has information related to the incident are asked to contact: 

• Detective Tanya Petz at 763-494-6211 or tpetz@ci.maple-grove.mn.us

• Maple Grove Police at 763-494-6100

• Anonymous tips: Crime Stoppers of Minnesota at 1-800-222-TIPS