Man charged with missing woman's death
A former Bonner County resident has been arrested for second-degree murder in connection with the 2019 disappearance of Rae Allison Berwanger.
Jordan Jarrad Law, 46, was taken into custody Wednesday in Spokane and charged with second-degree murder of Berwanger. Law was indicted by a Bonner County grand jury the day before on the murder charge as well as on charges of offering false or forged instruments for the record, and destruction of evidence. He was also indicted on two counts of rape in connection with an additional victim discovered during the investigation.
Berwanger, who was 54 at the time of her disappearance, was last seen by her brother March 3, 2019, at Law’s Kelso Lake Road residence, although her last date of contact was listed as March 5 on the Idaho State Police Missing Persons Clearinghouse website. Her disappearance was classified at the time as that of a person who is over the age of 18 for whom there is a reasonable concern for their safety.
She was officially reported missing March 7 and during the investigation, Law was identified as a person of interest in the case, according to Bonner County Sheriff Daryl Wheeler in a press release posted to the department's Facebook page.
After a lengthy investigation by Bonner County Sheriff’s detectives and with the assistance of the Idaho State Police SAKI (Sexual Assault Kit Initiative) program, Law was indicted by the grand jury Tuesday.
With the assistance of the Bend, Ore., Police Department, Spokane County Sheriff’s Office, and the U.S. Marshals Service, Law was located in Spokane on Wednesday and taken into custody.
Brent Bunn, U.S. Marshal for the District of Idaho, commended BCSO's "steadfast" investigative efforts and expressed his gratitude for the quick work by the various law enforcement agencies to locate Law and take him into custody.
"The valuable partnerships with local, state and federal law enforcement agencies enable our task forces to identify violent offenders for apprehension,” Bunn said. “Our relationship with the Idaho Department of Correction, Spokane County Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Border Patrol was integral in safely apprehending Law yesterday.”
Craig Thayer, U.S. Marshal for the Eastern District of Washington noted that those partnerships "once again aided in the successful apprehension of another violent offender who must now face the criminal justice system.”
Wheeler said the Idaho State Police Sexual Assault Kit Initiative program provided investigative and forensic science support and funding for the investigation. ISP received three grants from the U.S. Bureau of Justice Assistance through the SAKI program to bolster Idaho law enforcement's efforts to collect and process lawfully owed DNA samples. The grants also support the resolution of cold cases related to violent crime, sexual assault, homicide, and unidentified human remains through cutting-edge forensic science analysis, Wheeler said.
The murder charge is the second time that Law has faced charges connected to Berwanger. Shortly after she was reported missing, Law was charged with using the woman's financial transaction card without permission. In a 2019 probable cause affidavit connected to the case, police alleged Law used Berwanger's card to make three $400 withdrawals.
Court records show he received a withheld judgment in the case.
At the time of her disappearance, Law was considered a person of interest in Berwanger's absence, although no charges related to her disappearance were ever filed.
It is not clear what prompted murder charges to be filed at the time or what evidence was presented to the grand jury to prompt Law's indictment.
Those with any additional information are asked to call Detective Ted Swanstrom with the Bonner County Sheriff’s Office at 208-263-8417, ext. 3204.
Berwanger