(Estherville)– The 1st degree murder trial for 19-year-old CeJay Van Der Wilt continues in Emmet county. Van Der Wilt is one of two men charged in the October 2021 death of David McDowell of Estherville.
Most of Wednesday’s testimony was centered around events the evening of October 1st, 2021, when McDowell was picked up and taken to an apartment in Estherville. Brandon Clabaugh was among those at that apartment. He testified that later that evening, Van Der Wilt, along with Conner Uhde, another defendant in the case, and another man, Brady Solberg, left with McDowell, and that when they returned, McDowell wasn’t with them. Clabaugh added they wouldn’t tell him what happened to McDowell when he asked them. Clabaugh said he was then directed by Uhde to hide a shotgun in a wooded area near his stepdad’s place.
Previous testimony from DCI special agent Matthew Burns indicated McDowell had been shot in the neck.
