Man tied to slain North Dakota family held by immigration

By James MacPherson
Associated Press
02/03/2011
BISMARCK, N.D.

A Somali man who had a child with a North Dakota woman found dead last week has been interviewed as a "person of interest" in her death and the deaths of three others and is being held by U.S. immigration officials, officials said today.

Omar Mohamed Kalmio is the father of an infant girl found alive last week in the Minot apartment of 19-year-old Sabrina Zephier, who was found dead Friday, Minot Police Chief Jeff Balentine told the Associated Press today. Sabrina Zephier's mother, Jolene Zephier, 38; brother, Dillon Zephier, 13; and Jolene Zephier's boyfriend, Jeremy Longie, 22, were found slain in nearby mobile home less than an hour later.

"We have interviewed (Kalmio), and he is a person of interest," Balentine said.

He wasn't sure where immigration officials were holding Kalmio today but said police planned to interview him again. No one has been charged in the deaths.

Immigration officers brought Kalmio to the Ward County Jail on Tuesday and picked him up Wednesday afternoon, jail Capt. Penny Erickson said. Kalmio had been living in Minot but had been working in the northwest North Dakota city of Williston, Balentine said.

Immigration officials did not immediately return telephone messages left by the AP today.

The Zephiers were members of South Dakota's Yankton Sioux Tribe.

Officials have said they and Longie died after being shot. Their bodies were sent to Bismarck on Monday for autopsies, and police are waiting for

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