Cousin says DeRosier, grandfather clashed

The relationship between Josh DeRosier and Ted Bieganek was contentious, often including verbal fighting, witnesses testified today.

DeRosier, 20, is on trial in Crow Wing County District Court for the Dec. 24, 2001, murders of Ted and Angie Bieganek, his grandparents.

Stephanie Thesing, DeRosier's cousin and Angie Bieganek's granddaughter, said DeRosier got along well with Angie Bieganek, but not with Ted Bieganek.

Thesing, breaking into tears after taking the witness stand, testified that DeRosier told her he moved out of the Bieganek home on Barbeau Road because Ted Bieganek had given an ultimatum to Angie Bieganek -- that either he leave or DeRosier.

"She chose Ted," said Thesing.

Also testifying today was Leah Fossum, DeRosier's ex-girlfriend. Fossum said she witnessed verbal fights between DeRosier and Ted Bieganek, and that DeRosier had told her on a few different occasions that he wished Angie and Ted Bieganek would get a divorce.

"They weren't close. Josh and Ted would kind of fight about everything and anything," Fossum said. "They just never really got along."

Fossum said Ted Bieganek didn't like the financial support Angie Bieganek gave to DeRosier.

Fossum also testified that she had seen DeRosier at Paul Bunyan Sports Bar and Grill, formerly Pauline's, on Dec. 23, 2001, and that later that night she visited DeRosier about 12:30 a.m. at the Paul Bunyan Inn, where DeRosier lived and worked as a night caretaker.

Fossum said she left the motel about 1:30 a.m., and tried to call him later that night about 2:30 a.m. Fossum said she called DeRosier's room twice and got no answer. When she got DeRosier on his cell phone, Fossum said DeRosier told her he didn't answer his motel room phone because he was running errands for motel guests.

Ryan Franz, DeRosier's friend, also visited DeRosier at the Paul Bunyan Inn on Dec. 23, 2001, and into the early morning hours of Dec. 24, 2001. Franz testified that he had met DeRosier at Paul Bunyan Sports Bar and Grill earlier that night, and had stopped by DeRosier's room to play video games.

Franz said between the time he arrived and the time he left the motel about 12:30 a.m., he didn't meet or see anybody else in DeRosier's room that night.

Franz also said he never witnessed any arguments between Ted Bieganek and DeRosier.

"They got along pretty good -- not quite as good as (DeRosier) and Angie," Franz said.

The Bieganeks appeared to be asleep when they were shot on Christmas Eve of 2001. Ted Bieganek was shot twice, including once in the head, Angie was shot once in the head.