Two friends checking their hunting cameras near the Wild Rice River in Cass County, North Dakota, made a discovery that likely saved a life. Jay Schueler and Jeff Jones spotted a 28-year-old woman on their trail camera footage, visibly injured and alone in a remote area. They didn’t wait for someone else to act. They found her, called 911, and stayed with her until first responders arrived.
The woman had severe, life-threatening knife wounds to her neck and was wet from the river when they reached her. The Cass County Sheriff said she had been left out there to die. From her hospital bed at Sanford in Fargo, she gave investigators a suspect’s name and vehicle information. That led to the arrest of 60-year-old Tracy Vaughn Peters, who knew the victim, on an attempted murder charge. Deputies are still searching for the knife used in the attack.
This story resonates beyond North Dakota. Rural communities everywhere, including here on the Suncoast, depend on neighbors who pay attention and act when something feels wrong. Whether it’s a trail camera, a Ring doorbell, or just a gut feeling, that instinct matters. The case remains open as investigators continue their work. Have you ever come across something unexpected while out on a back road or in the woods? Tell us about it.
