Man gives $7,000 reward to victim

ALEXANDRIA A Minnesota man who helped a missing teenager, gave the reward money he was gifted back to the girl, who was held captive by three men for nearly a month.

Earl Melchert, 65, was presented with a $7,000 reward check on Friday. Alexandria Police Chief Richard Wyffels held a news conference to present Melchert with the check, but when the chief handed him the check, he turned and gave it to Jasmine Block.

“What no one expected was the kindness and generosity that came straight from Earl’s heart today,” Wyffels wrote in a post on the department’s Facebook page.

Block, 15, went missing from her family’s home in Alexandria on Aug. 8. Police said Thomas Barker, 32, of Carlos, Minn., lured Block from her home by asking for help. Barker, who was a family acquaintance, then drove her to his home, restrained her with zip ties and along with two other men “repeatedly assaulted her” for weeks.

The men left Block alone for the first time in 29 days while they went to a nearby town for lunch, according to a police report. Block escaped, knocked on doors of nearby homes, swam across part of a lake to a residence where she eventually found help. Police arrested three men in the abduction: Barker; Steven Powers, 20, of Mankato; and Joshua Holby, 31, of Carlo. This is an ongoing investigation.

Melchert recognized the abducted teen on Sept. 5 as she tried to find help, after escaping from her captors. Melchert comforted the teen and called authorities.

“He believes that young lady that came running towards him that September day is the real hero and without hesitation, Earl handed the reward over to her, followed by a big hug,” Wyffels said. “Thank you, Earl, it is people like you that make this world a better place.”

Wyffels ended the post by reminding everyone to be kind to each other, a message embodied by the man of the hour.

BETH LEIPHOLTZ, ECHO PRESS Jasmine’s mother Sarah Block and Earl Melchert meet for the first time since Jasmine’s return.

Jasmine Block