By David Lohr

July 19, 2007

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FARGO, N.D. (Crime Library)  — This time last year, 16-year-old Whitney Paige Carlson was at a United Methodist mission retreat in Wisconsin.  Today, Whitney's family and friends will be assembling at Olivet Lutheran Church, where they will bid their final farewells during a mid-afternoon funeral service.  Unfortunately, Whitney's death is not the only tragedy with which her family must cope.  Earlier this week, police took her younger brother into custody, and he is being held in connection with her death, which has left an entire community devastated.

Details of the events that took place on the morning of July 14 are not immediately clear.  According to police, Whitney's mother, Penny Ripplinger, found her daughter unconscious and not breathing.  When paramedics arrived on the scene, they were unable to resuscitate her, and Whitney was pronounced dead shortly after 8:00 a.m.  A cause of death was not immediately apparent; however, because the victim was young and in good health prior to the incident, her death was considered suspicious.  Investigators with the Fargo Police Department spent the remainder of the weekend interviewing everyone who was present at the time of the incident.

"The case presents itself with a number of possibilities — some may be of more potential than others, but they are running the gamut," Fargo Police Lt. Patrick Claus told In-forum.com on Sunday.

Whitney Carlson

On Monday, the county coroner completed Whitney's autopsy, revealing that she had died from asphyxiation.  It was immediately clear to investigators that a homicide had taken place; however, several questions remained — most importantly: who would want this beautiful young woman dead?

Born on August 30, 1990, Whitney had one of those personalities that stood out in a crowd.  According to her family, she had a love for people and animals, especially horses.  During her sophomore year at South High School, she was involved with the Key Club and the Prom Committee.  She also enjoyed cheerleading at school and teaching Sunday school at Trinity Lutheran Church in Moorhead.

Rev. Scott Carlson

Whitney's parents are divorced, and both have remarried.  Her father, Rev. Scott Carlson, is the senior pastor at Sun Prairie United Methodist Church in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin.  According to the church's website, SunPrairieUMC.org, he has six children and stepchildren.

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Contact David Lohr  at           crimewriter74@adelphia.net

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