Accused Murder Accomplice Trial Begins

A Bemidji man accused of being an accomplice in the murder of Rose Downwind appeared in court Monday.

Downwind’s former boyfriend, Marchello Cimmarusti, named Brandon Rossbach, 32, as an accomplice for helping burn and bury Rose Downwind’s body after he turned himself in, back in December, according to the Bemidji Pioneer.

Cimmarusti plead guilty in April to second-degree intentional murder. Christopher Davis, 28 of St. Paul, told the Beltrami County Court that he helped transport the body, dug a hole, burned and buried the body, an later sent a text message to Downwind’s mother to make it appear she was still alive.

Rossbach has had numerous criminal charges against him starting in 2005. He has been convicted of making terroristic threats, 5^th degree assault to inflict or attempt bodily harm, fleeing peace officers, DWI, 4^th degree intentional damage to property, 3^rd degree assault for substantial bodily harm and other charges.

According to the Bemidji Pioneer, Judge Paul Benshoof is questioning the jury to see how much potential jurors’ already know about the case. Rossbach’s attorney requested a change in venue due to the potential for a bias because of media coverage.

Downwind was last seen in Bemidji on October 21, 2015. Her body was discovered in a shallow grave in early December on a wooded area northwest of the city. She was 31 years old at the time of her death.

Jury selection is expected to be completed Tuesday.