20/20: "Her Last Note" (ABC News, January 24, 2026)

A True Crime Deep Dive into the Murder of Jesse Blodgett

Episode Overview

"Her Last Note" explores the chilling murder of 19-year-old Jesse Blodgett, a gifted musician and college student from Hartford, Wisconsin, and the unexpectedly linked attack on Melissa Etzler days earlier in a neighboring town. With emotional first-person accounts, extensive police interviews, and courtroom drama, the episode traces the investigation that shattered a tight-knit community—and revealed a devastating betrayal.

Main Themes

• The life and spirit of Jesse Blodgett
• The alarming parallel attack on Melissa Etzler
• The community's fear and heartbreak
• The unraveling of the investigation and stunning revelation of the culprit
• Forgiveness, legacy, and resilience following unimaginable loss

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Jesse Blodgett: A Vibrant Life Lost [03:53–19:10]

• Jesse’s Background & Talents

  • Jesse was deeply involved in music: piano, violin, singing, performing and teaching [03:53–05:09].
  • As the "Fiddler" in a local production of Fiddler on the Roof, she had just enjoyed a landmark weekend and a late cast party.
  • “She started her own business that summer and had 28, mostly kids coming to our house every week for piano, voice and violin lessons.” – Buck Blodgett [05:09]
  • Jesse's parents, Joy and Buck, cherished her as their only child.

• Discovery of the Crime

  • Jesse's mother found her unresponsive and cold in her bed the morning after the cast party [05:52].
  • The community plunged into shock; “When we found out that she had been murdered, there was a panic in Hartford… There was a dangerous person on the loose.” – Friend of Jesse [11:04]
  • Detailed crime scene: no forced entry, no robbery, signs of ligature strangulation, staged to look as if she was sleeping, and unusual detail—her hair and pants were wet, suggesting she was bathed postmortem [06:25–10:49].

2. The Immediate Aftermath & Search for Answers [12:55–23:38]

• Community Context

  • Small-town Hartford rarely saw violent crime—a population of 16,000 with a strong arts scene and community feel [13:04–13:19].
  • Local spots like Perk Place were tied to Jesse’s everyday life.

• Early Suspects and Leads

  • Investigators checked out tree trimmers who had worked outside Jesse’s window days before, and a restaurant patron who’d acted inappropriately toward her—both cleared quickly [21:07–22:31].
  • Attention shifted to Randy Talley, an older castmate and choreographer who had made Jesse uncomfortable at the cast party. Detectives discovered a diary entry describing her discomfort and anger toward him, naming him specifically [18:49–24:05].

3. The Parallel Attack on Melissa Etzler [28:04–46:22]

• Melissa’s Survival Story

  • Days before Jesse’s murder, Melissa Etzler was attacked in Richfield Historical Park by a stranger wielding a knife [28:28, 35:14].
  • She bravely fought back, grabbing the blade, and escaped with the knife as the attacker fled [35:52–36:12].
  • Her detailed description and retention of the knife were key in the investigation [36:44, 39:33].

• Police Investigation

  • Initially, officers doubted it could be a true stranger-on-stranger attack given the area’s safety record [37:29].
  • Evidence at the scene included sunglasses, a roll of ventilation tape, and later, the knife—suggesting a planned abduction [44:15–45:11].
  • “He was probably going to bind her up somehow or control her that way. So she really showed a lot of strength and a lot of determination to survive by fighting him off.” – Investigator [45:18]

4. The Investigation Accelerates: From Suspicion to Breakthroughs [47:01–70:35]

• Breakthrough on Melissa’s Case

  • A routine park patrol weeks earlier had logged a blue minivan’s license plate, traced to a local family; their 20-year-old son, Dan Bartelt, was using it [47:01–47:55].
  • When detectives interviewed Dan, they were shocked—he shared insider details about Jesse’s case (suggesting rape) that had not been made public [48:26–59:07].

• Stunning Double Life

  • Dan Bartelt, a close friend and fellow musician of Jesse’s, who had spent time grieving with her family, became the primary suspect in both cases [49:16–50:13, 59:35–61:18].
  • Dan was a high-achiever with a supposedly squeaky-clean reputation: “He was a straight-A student… gifted violinist… athlete… a fun person to be around.” – Friends and Buck Blodgett [59:47–61:18].

• Evidence Piles Up

  • Investigators found DNA, fingerprints, and personal items (used in the crime) in a Frosted Mini Wheats box discarded at a park—essentially a "kill kit"—containing rope, alcohol wipes, a homemade ball gag, ventilation tape [69:17].
  • Jesse's and Dan's DNA were the only ones found on these items [70:09–70:17].
  • Chilling: A month before the murder, Jesse wrote on Facebook about Dan breaking into her home while she slept. “He walked into my house and then my room while I was still in bed. What a freak.” – Jesse (from Facebook post) [71:27].

5. Trial, Sentencing, and Healing [72:24–82:20]

• Courtroom Drama

  • Dan denied the murder, even as overwhelming forensic and digital evidence mounted (including searches on serial killers and violent pornography) [73:04, 77:36–78:01].
  • The defense argued lack of motive, tried to sow doubt about evidence, and demonstrated the complicated ties between both families [73:34–75:12].

• Verdict and Sentencing

  • The jury found Dan Bartelt guilty of Jesse’s murder after only three hours of deliberation. He was sentenced to life without parole [78:54–80:11].

• Buck Blodgett’s Powerful Forgiveness

  • At sentencing, Buck addressed Dan directly: “I not only forgive you, I love you… of course, I hate what you did. You are forgiven, but you won't know it, and you won't feel it and experience it until you tell the truth.” [81:26–81:29]
  • Buck channeled grief into action, founding the Love is Greater Than Hate project in Jesse’s honor, aiming to “presence love” to reduce violence [81:55–82:20].

6. Jesse’s Enduring Legacy [84:01–84:08]

• Scholarships and Community Action
  • The Jesse Blodgett Scholarship supports young musicians pursuing their dreams, as Jesse did [84:01].
  • Melissa Etzler has joined Buck’s mission, stating, “My story is forever tied to Jesse’s. What he’s done is just incredible. Bringing his daughter’s legacy to life.” [83:05]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)

• On the Initial Shock and Grief

  • “I got the phone call that every parent fears.” – Buck Blodgett [07:04]
  • “Nobody saw this coming.” – Buck Blodgett [11:23]
  • “I just can't believe this. I hugged her goodbye last night and now she's gone.” – Buck Blodgett [25:48]

• On Jesse’s Spirit

  • “She was definitely wise beyond her years.” – Friend of Jesse [14:51]
  • “She really thought that she was going to change the world through music. Music was going to be her vehicle.” – Buck Blodgett [17:21]

• On Melissa’s Survival

  • “My body was like, you know what? This is our best bet at survival.” – Melissa Etzler [36:17]
  • “He was probably going to bind her up somehow… she really showed a lot of strength.” – Investigator [45:18]

• On Betrayal

  • “How could he show up to her house after he had just killed her… it was as if he was there so he could get a front seat.” – Friend of Jesse [79:33]

• On Forgiveness & Legacy

  • “I not only forgive you. I love you… You are forgiven. But you won't know it and you won't feel it and experience it until you tell the truth.” – Buck Blodgett [81:26]
  • “The more we presence love, the more we absence violence. That's what we're trying to do.” – Buck Blodgett [82:01]

Key Timestamps for Major Segments

| Time | Segment | |-----------|--------------------------------------------------------------| | 03:53 | Jesse's background introduced by her father | | 05:43 | Discovery of Jesse's body, community’s initial shock | | 13:04 | Exploration of Hartford community and arts scene | | 18:49 | Investigators discover Jesse’s diary and suspect Randy Talley| | 28:28 | Parallel park attack on Melissa Etzler | | 35:14 | Melissa recounts her attack and escape | | 47:01 | Blue minivan lead and police breakthrough | | 59:35 | Revelation that Jesse's friend Dan Bartelt is a suspect | | 69:17 | Discovery of the “kill kit” box with Dan/Jesse DNA | | 72:24 | Trial and sentencing | | 79:05 | Verdict read—Dan found guilty | | 81:26 | Buck Blodgett's statement of forgiveness at sentencing | | 82:01 | Launch of Love is Greater Than Hate project | | 84:01 | Initiation of Jesse Blodgett Scholarship |

Tone & Language

The episode’s tone is simultaneously factual and heart-wrenching, incorporating firsthand community voices (family, friends, law enforcement) with narrative empathy. Buck Blodgett’s voice resonates throughout, exemplifying resilience and compassion amid tragedy.

Conclusion

"Her Last Note" is a powerful, devastating chronicle of two intertwined crimes, the devastation wrought by violence from within, and the hopeful efforts to forge meaning in the aftermath. Through its honest portraits and intricate investigation, the episode honors Jesse’s memory, Melissa’s courage, and the power of community response.