Blood Trails, Ep. 4: A Big Woods Cold Case

Host: Jordan Sillars
Date: November 20, 2025

Overview

In this gripping episode, “A Big Woods Cold Case,” host Jordan Sillars explores the unsolved 2016 murder of Terry Brisk, a devoted father and avid outdoorsman shot and killed with his own rifle on his central Minnesota property. Almost a decade later, the case remains open, with evidence scarce, rumors rampant in the tight-knit community, and the Brisk family still searching for answers. Through original reporting, intimate family interviews, law enforcement insight, and a deep dive into possible theories, Sillars unpacks not only the details of the crime but the way its long shadow has torn at the Brisk family and the community itself.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Day of the Crime & Immediate Aftermath

• Setting: November 7, 2016, deer season in rural Minnesota.
• Discovery (03:29–05:56):
  • Jonathan Brisk (Terry’s son), eager to hunt, couldn’t reach his dad by text and heard his father’s phone near his blind.
  • Upon searching, Jonathan discovered his father’s body:

    “I just instantly started freaking out, yelling to the world, like, what's going on? ... I had no idea what was going on.” (Jonathan Brisk, 05:24)

  • He called his mother, Pam, then his aunt Holly; both recount the disbelief and chaos of those first moments.
• Initial Law Enforcement Response (07:36):
  • Investigators and family first thought it was a hunting accident; soon after, deputies designated it a homicide.
  • The weapon was missing, immediately raising suspicions.

2. Who Was Terry Brisk? — Character and Community

• Background (09:47–13:33):
  • Lifelong Little Falls resident, hardworking, loving father, and avid outdoorsman.
  • Described as devoted, playful, and central to his family network:

    “He was a wonderful man. He was a wonderful father. He was a great friend.” (Pam Brisk, 09:44)

  • Terry was well-known for generosity and humor:

    "He always made the joke that our son was his and not Scott's. ... He was just somebody that you would want to know." (Michelle Manik, 12:07)

  • The entire community mourned him; his funeral procession was described as massive and emotionally charged (13:47).

3. The Investigation: Challenges and Breaks

• Crime Scene Complexity (14:33–15:57):
  • Outdoor environment, lack of witnesses, and contamination risk complicated evidence collection.
  • Deputies quickly roped in Minnesota BCA for help.
  • Timeline: Terry was last seen alive late morning; found at 4:20 PM by Jonathan.
  • A neighbor heard a shot around 2 PM; Terry may have lain dead in the woods for over two hours before discovery.
  • Family trauma deepened by this time gap.
• The Search for the Rifle (18:22–20:17):
  • Terry’s own rifle, a Winchester Model 94 AE .30-30, was missing from the scene.
  • After extensive searches, it was found months later under leaves, far from the body.
  • Undermined theories of accidental shooting or a stray bullet; confirmed close-range homicide:

  "Terry was shot at close range with that rifle." (Narrator, 20:10)

• The Blue Van Lead (21:43–22:39):
  • Witnesses reported a blue van near the crime scene at the probable time of death.
  • The van was seen at the property gate and then leaving the area.

  “Three, maybe up to five people saw this blue van in this area during that time frame.” (Sheriff Shawn Larson, 21:43)

  • Later confirmed that the family also had a blue van, deepening the mystery.

4. Rumors, Theories, and the Toll on the Family

• Small-Town Gossip (27:08–28:48):
  • The unsolved nature of Terry’s murder led to a proliferation of rumors; the Brisk children faced invasive questions and cruel speculation at school.
  • Most persistent rumor: suspicion of Pam, Terry's wife, as the perpetrator.
• Pam as Suspect (28:58–34:56):
  • Michelle Manik and some family members allege a motive linked to marital discord and financial concerns; Pam denies involvement:

    “They can blame me all they want, I wasn't there. There's nothing I could have done.” (Pam Brisk, 40:45)

  • The family observed Pam’s blue van near the scene, matching the van noticed by witnesses and the sheriff.

  “As she was coming home, she said...why was Pam's van parked where Terry hunts?” (Michelle Manik, 32:56)

  • Pam, however, says she was home babysitting and disputes the family’s account.
• The Trespasser Theory (35:55–37:45):
  • Another plausible theory is that Terry confronted a trespasser (perhaps looking for agates in the property’s gravel pit), resulting in a deadly altercation:

    “I think somebody was on a property that wasn't supposed to be on the property, and they were confronted and...they didn't like how things were going.” (Jonathan Brisk, 35:55)

  • Terry’s friend Scott describes hostile run-ins with trespassers in the past.
  • The sheriff considers both theories (family or trespasser involvement) but offers no conclusion.
• Family Strife and Grief (43:42–47:38):
  • The unresolved case deepened rifts in the family—children caught between grandparents and mother, visits strained or ended.

    “I thought...it would kind of bring our family together more. But it turns out it just pushed us away even further.” (Jonathan Brisk, 45:37)

  • Family members continue to seek closure.

5. Ongoing Investigation & Hope for the Future

• New Technology and Tips (48:29–49:58):
  • In 2023, investigators applied digital evidence extraction to Terry’s phone to tighten the timeline.

    “It could actually show us a timeline when all activities seemed to cease...and GPS coordinates.” (Sheriff Larson, 48:54)

  • The case remains open; the sheriff encourages anyone, even with secondhand information, to come forward.
  • $30,000 reward offered for information leading to an arrest.
• Lasting Impact (50:17–51:26):
  • Both Pam and Holly express the immense relief they’d feel at closure:

    “It would finally close the gap in my heart on what really happened to Terry.” (Pam Brisk, 50:17) “Please speak up for the family so we can get the answers. We haven't grieved because we have no answers yet.” (Holly Brisk, 51:18)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Jonathan Brisk, on finding his father:
  “I just instantly started freaking out...I yelled, help. I mean, I'm out in the middle of nowhere.” (05:24)
• Sheriff Shawn Larson, on community impact:
  “This is an attack on his way of life, on our way of life. So this is an attack to everybody. So we just want answers.” (23:27)
• Pam Brisk, on being accused:
  “They can blame me all they want. I wasn't there. There's nothing I could have done.” (40:45)
• Scott Jelinski, on trespassers:
  “It wasn't uncommon to pull in there and there's a car sitting at the gate...I just think he come upon somebody sneaking through the woods...” (36:46)
• Jonathan Brisk, on family aftermath:
  “It turns out it just pushed us away even further. You know, us kids are sitting here and we're constantly being torn from one side of the family to the other...” (45:37)
• Sheriff Larson, on plea for tips:
  “Even if they hear something on this podcast that might be secondhand information...We want to follow up on every tip.” (49:39)
• Holly Brisk, on unresolved grief:
  “Please speak up for the family so we can get the answers. We haven't grieved because we have no answers yet.” (51:18)

Important Timestamps

| Segment | Timestamp | |------------------------------------------------------|-----------| | Jonathan discovers Terry’s body | 05:07 | | Crime scene declared a homicide | 07:36 | | Character portraits and community recollections | 09:44-12:24 | | Crime scene investigation and timeline formation | 15:23-17:14 | | Search & recovery of murder weapon | 18:22-20:17 | | Introduction of the blue van lead | 21:43-23:05 | | Rumors about Pam—including blue van accusations | 27:08-34:56 | | Trespasser theory detailed by family and friends | 35:55-38:33 | | Law enforcement weighs both main theories | 42:43 | | Family division and grief | 43:42-47:38 | | New forensic technology and call for tips | 48:29-49:58 | | Final emotional reflections from Pam and Holly | 50:17-51:26 |

Episode Tone and Style

• Measured, Intimate, Candid: Sillars lets family members speak in full; listeners hear raw emotion, confusion, and honest speculation, but he never sensationalizes.
• Methodical and Community-Oriented: The show is deeply anchored in local culture—values, hunting traditions, rural isolation, and the wounds of an unsolved tragedy.
• Balanced Yet Compassionate: Rumors and suspicions are explored but always with reminders that no one has been charged. The emotional toll on all parties is foregrounded.

Conclusion

“A Big Woods Cold Case” artfully blends true crime reporting with an empathetic look at how a single violent act can fracture a family and a community for years. As Jordan Sillars lays out fresh clues and the haunting questions still lingering, he invites not just closure for the Brisks but bigger reflections on rural justice, the nature of rumors, and the enduring pain of not knowing. The invitation to share even small pieces of information—along with the offered reward—highlights the faint but persistent hope that Terry Brisk’s case might yet be solved.

If you have information about the case, contact the Morrison County Sheriff’s Office at 320-632-9233.
For visuals and more info, visit themeateater.com/bloodtrails.