How Jessie Blodgett Was Killed — Her Ex Gave Away a Secret Only the Killer Would Know. Where Daniel Bartelt Is Now

More than a decade after the 2013 killing of Wisconsin theater student Jessie Blodgett, her case has returned to public attention with ABC's 20/20 episode “Her Last Note,” which premiered Jan. 23 and streams on Disney+ and Hulu. The investigation, arrest and conviction of Jessie’s longtime friend and former boyfriend, Daniel Bartelt, remain a stark reminder of a community grappling with a violent, senseless death.

The Night and the Discovery

Jessie Blodgett, 19, a sophomore studying theater at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee, performed in a production of Fiddler on the Roof and returned home late the night of July 14, 2013. Her mother discovered Jessie’s lifeless body in her bed around noon the next day. An autopsy later confirmed strangulation as the cause of death; no weapon was recovered from her room.

How Investigators Focused on Bartelt

Jessie and Daniel Bartelt had known one another for years, briefly dating in high school and remaining friends. In the immediate aftermath of Jessie’s death, Bartelt was among those offering comfort to the family, a detail that investigators later weighed alongside other evidence.

Police moved quickly and, within a 16-day investigation, identified Bartelt as a suspect after he referenced a detail of the assault — saying Jessie had been “raped and murdered” — that had not been released publicly. Investigators also obtained security footage showing Bartelt in Woodlawn Park on the day of the murder. A search of park trash recovered ropes, tape and sanitizing wipes with blood; DNA testing linked material from that evidence to both Jessie and Bartelt.

Other Evidence and Prior Attack

Authorities reported disturbing search queries on Bartelt’s computer, including searches about serial killers. Days before Jessie’s death, on July 12, 2013, Bartelt allegedly attacked a woman walking her dog in a nearby park, charging at her with a knife; the woman disarmed him and he fled. Bartelt later admitted to that attack and faced separate felony and misdemeanor charges related to it.

Trial, Conviction and Sentence

Bartelt pleaded not guilty and has continued to proclaim his innocence. At trial, prosecutors argued the totality of the evidence showed premeditation and brutality. Bartelt was convicted of first-degree intentional homicide on Oct. 14, 2014, and was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. He is incarcerated at the Waupun Correctional Institution in Wisconsin.

“I can't give you the reasons you are looking for. There's no hiding from yourself in a tiny, concrete cell,” Bartelt told Jessie’s parents, asserting that his restraints did not equate to guilt.

Aftermath and Legacy

At sentencing, the judge cited the crime’s brutality and apparent planning as reasons to impose a life term. Jessie’s father, Buck Blodgett, later founded the Love Is Greater Than Hate Project in 2016 to honor her memory and continue advocacy against male violence toward women — a cause Jessie had spoken about while alive.

Why the Case Still Matters

The new 20/20 episode revisits the investigation, the evidence that pointed to Bartelt and the long-lasting impact on Jessie’s family and community. The case remains significant in conversations about violence against women, investigative forensics and how communities respond to tragedy.