Cass Lake Man Gets 25 Years for Fatal Beltrami County Stabbing

Oct 31

A Cass Lake man has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for fatally stabbing another man in Beltrami County last summer.

According to court records, 21-year-old Avery Owen Cadwell was convicted of second-degree murder with intent in connection with the June 15, 2025 killing of 28-year-old Codi Brown.

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Deputies were called around 9:30 p.m. to the 1100 block of Porcupine Road Southeast, where they found Brown unresponsive and not breathing. Despite life-saving efforts, he was pronounced dead at a hospital shortly after.

The investigation determined Cadwell confronted Brown after developing resentment over a $100 debt. Witnesses told deputies they heard Cadwell say he was “going to get” Brown shortly before the stabbing. Brown was found a short distance away after fleeing on an ATV, bleeding from a chest wound. A neighbor reported hearing the victim say he had been stabbed before collapsing.

Cadwell initially fled into nearby woods but was tracked by drone and K9 teams and arrested after returning home to say goodbye to his children. During questioning, he told deputies he thought he had only assaulted the victim, had not killed him and admitted he shouldn’t have taken a knife to confront him. The Ramsey County Medical Examiner determined the victim died from a single stab wound to the chest that pierced his heart.

Court filings show Cadwell had several prior convictions, including domestic assault, theft and DWI. He was sentenced Oct. 24 to 25 years in prison, with credit for 130 days served.

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