Roland Dean Sundahl

Case record

Roland Dean Sundahl (died April 30, 1952) was an American murderer electrocuted in Nebraska’s electric chair for the abduction and murder of Bonnie Lou Merrill.

Background

Sundahl was married with two young children. He was described as a laborer, a calm man who was not angered easily, and kind to people and animals. His family reported that, in the year or so before the crime, his health changed for the worse. He suffered from headaches and became moody and depressed. His family reported those changes in the year or so before the crime.

The offence

Bonnie Lou Merrill went missing from the Y-Knot Cafe in Columbus, Nebraska, over Labor Day weekend in 1950. She had only been working at the cafe for two days before she went missing. She had not collected her paycheck since her shift on August 27, 1950.

Police learned that Merrill had a date with another boy named Ronald Kasper, who was being driven by Roland Sundahl. Merrill met with Sundahl and Ronald Kasper at the Y-Knot Cafe, and the trio began to drive around. When the night ended and Kasper left, he requested that Merrill be driven home. Instead of driving her home, however, Sundahl drove Merrill to Lake Babcock, north of Columbus, and made romantic advances towards her. When she resisted, he choked her, beat her with a hatchet, and hid her body in the weeds.

After hiding the body, Sundahl told police that he went to a nearby filing station and slept in his car after downing a cup of coffee.

Investigation

After Merrill’s disappearance, her boss, Jim Cumming, kept all of his employees at his home after their shifts ended.

Trial

Sundahl was charged with first-degree murder and attempted rape. He faced a jury of 12 men three months after the crime.

An unsuccessful insanity defense was presented. A psychiatric evaluation concluded that Sundahl tended to withdraw from people into a “dream world of fantasy.” Upon receiving a second examination from a different doctor, it was determined that Sundahl knew his ethics and had no history of mental illness.

Sundahl testified at his trial. He said that Bonnie’s murder was “like a dream” and that he “[couldn’t] believe it was possible.”

Sundahl said that Bonnie’s murder was “like a dream” and that he “[couldn’t] believe it was possible.”

Sundahl’s mother collapsed in the courtroom on several different occasions. Sundahl’s wife burst into hysterics and made many outbursts.

After nine hours, Roland Sundahl was found guilty of first-degree murder. He was sentenced to death.

Sentencing and appeals

Upon hearing the sentence, Sundahl put his head in his hands and wept.

Motions for a new trial and a Nebraska Supreme Court appeal were made, and both failed. Sundahl’s legal counsel then filed for a stay of the sentence, followed by a rehearing in the case. Finally, an appeal was made to the U.S. Supreme Court, and all three appeals failed.

Aftermath

While awaiting the decision on commutation from the state prison board, Sundahl attempted suicide while in prison by cutting his wrists with a pencil sharpener blade hidden in his Bible. The blade was hidden by Sundahl cutting a small hole into several pages, and directly above the hole he underlined:

“He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; he leadeth me beside the still waters.”

After the suicide attempt, Sundahl was put under 24-hour suicide watch.

His request for commutation was denied. Sixteen months after Merrill’s death, on April 30, 1952, Sundahl entered the execution chamber. He was seated in the electric chair, made no final statement, and was pronounced dead three minutes after entering the chamber.