NIKKI SUE ENTZEL | Chad Entzel Died From Multiple Shotgun Blasts in January 2020. It Was the House Fire That Revealed a Murder Case and a Love Triangle, Shocking a North Dakota City | ALS

Nikki Entzel. Autographed Letter, Signed. Handwritten, Commercial #10 (4.125 × 9.5 envelope). Bismarck, ND. March 19, 2025. Content unknown. SEALED.

A Web of Deceit: The Nikki Entzel Story

In the quiet outskirts of Bismarck, North Dakota, a sinister plot unfolded, culminating in the tragic death of Chad Entzel. This narrative delves into the life of Nikki Sue Entzel, unraveling the events that led to her husband's murder, the subsequent investigation, and the profound impact on the community.

Nikki Sue Entzel, born in 1981, hailed from the Midwest. Details about her early life remain sparse, but it is known that she was a mother to two sons from previous relationships. In 2016, she married Chad Entzel, a respected member of the Bismarck community known for his passion for bowling, darts, and stock car racing. The couple resided together with Nikki's children, presenting an image of a blended family striving for harmony.

However, beneath this facade, Nikki's life was marked by turbulence. She had prior convictions, including insurance fraud in South Dakota in 2012. By 2019, Nikki became entangled in an extramarital affair with Earl Howard, a married man from Canada. Their clandestine relationship set the stage for a deadly conspiracy.

On December 30, 2019, surveillance footage captured Nikki and Howard entering the Entzel residence while Chad was away at his bowling league. Later that night, between 1 a.m. and 3 a.m., Chad was shot twice with a shotgun in his own home. In an attempt to cover up the murder, Nikki and Howard tried to set the house ablaze by placing a propane-fueled space heater near Chad's bed, hoping it would ignite and destroy evidence. When this initial attempt failed, they returned days later to start a second fire atop the basement furnace. On January 2, 2020, Nikki reported a fire at their residence. Firefighters discovered Chad's lifeless body, revealing not only the fire but also the gunshot wounds that pointed to foul play.

The investigation swiftly unraveled the conspiracy. Authorities uncovered the affair between Nikki and Howard, their plans to move to Texas, and the motive rooted in financial gain from Chad's life insurance policy, which named Nikki as the sole beneficiary. Both were charged with conspiracy to commit murder, arson, and evidence tampering. Howard pleaded guilty and received a 25-year sentence in February 2022. Nikki opted for a trial, maintaining her innocence despite mounting evidence. In October 2022, she was convicted on all charges and subsequently sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole in February 2023. Her appeal was later rejected by the North Dakota Supreme Court in October 2023.

The ramifications of Chad's murder were profound. His family and friends were devastated by the loss of a man they described as kind-hearted and dedicated. The community grappled with the betrayal and the calculated nature of the crime. The case underscored the lethal consequences of deceit and greed, serving as a grim reminder of the darkness that can lurk beneath seemingly ordinary lives.

Currently, Nikki Entzel remains incarcerated, serving her life sentence. There is no public record of rehabilitation efforts on her part. The case stands as a cautionary tale about the perils of duplicity and the devastating impact of selfish pursuits.

In reflecting upon this tragic narrative, one is reminded of the importance of vigilance and the need to address underlying issues before they escalate into irreversible actions. The Entzel case serves as a stark example of how unchecked desires and betrayals can lead to catastrophic outcomes.

• VIDEO: Nikki Sue Entzel: An Impossible Crime Scene | https://youtu.be/9NkyIgBe5uw

• VIDEO: Sentencing for Nikki Entzel | https://youtu.be/tnX4MC4or8g

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