Iowa Man Sentenced to Life for Killing Friend… Over Mayonnaise – Opinion

“Bring out the best.” If you’re unfamiliar with the famous slogan, take a closer look at the featured image, above. Hellmann’s/Best Foods Mayonnaise has been “bring(ing) out the best” in America for more than 100 years.

This is except for December 17, 2020 in rural Iowa.

Iowa man sentenced to life in prison after killing his friend in a fight over mayonnaise https://t.co/IA2ZHB3Xdv pic.twitter.com/AoCFZja09y

— New York Post (@nypost) February 4, 2022

Kristofer, 29, struck Caleb Solberg twice with his pickup truck.

Oh, and Erlbacher also called Solberg’s brother to tell him he had just killed Solberg.

As reported by the Twiner Herald, Solberg, Erlbacher, and a third person were eating and drinking at a bar in Moorhead, Iowa, when Erlbacher spread mayo on Solberg’s food. Solberg responded as any normal person would. [heavy sarc]Erlbacher was punched in the face.

We will not lie, the result was disappointing. game-on — a steel cage death match over damn mayonnaise.

Erlbacher and the third person then drove about 10 minutes to Dave’s Old Home café in Pisgah, Iowa — population: 261. While en route, Erlbacher called Solberg’s half-brother, Craig Pryor, twice, and threatened to set Solberg’s house on fire and shoot him to death with his shotgun. Pryor then drove to the café. Round twoIt was in progress at the bar.

According to the complaint, the third person approached Pryor from outside and advised him of Erlbacher’s presence. Solberg arrived at the café and spoke with Pryor before a fight broke out between Solberg and the other person. If you need a scorecard, here, you’re not alone.

So… here’s the deal, via the Des Moines Register:

Erlbacher left after that fight ended and used his 2001 Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck to hit Pryor’s vehicle while Pryor was inside it, according to a criminal complaint. When Pryor got out to assess the damage, Erlbacher rammed Pryor and Pryor’s vehicle.

Solberg was fatally hit by Erlbacher with his pick-up truck around 10 p.m. According to the verdict, the first blow didn’t kill Solberg.

Erlbacher walked down the street and turned around to strike Solberg again. According to the verdict, Solberg ended up under an SUV outside of the cafe. According to the verdict, Erlbacher drove one more time over Solberg to make sure that he had killed him.

Erlbacher’s vehicle broke down. He called his father to get help. He also called Pryor to tell him he killed his brother.

This is a completely normal reaction. Nothing crazy-a** at all went on, here.

After a December 2021 bench trial, Erlbacher was found guilty and sentenced on Monday to life imprisonment.

According to Twiner-Herald, District Judge Greg Steensland signed the verdict.

Erlbacher’s first blow to Solberg did not kill him. You can hear him screaming for Craig Pryor. Rather than just leave, Erlbacher went down the street, turned around, and came back to strike Solberg a second time … To be sure he had completed the job, Erlbacher drove his truck up and over Solberg one last time.

Pryor summed up the whole thing with the understatement of understatements: “It was just another bar fight in Harrison County,’ until it wasn’t any longer.”

Erlbacher of course claimed he acted out of self-defense, and while he admitted to being intoxicated, he didn’t mean to kill Solberg. It’s not. I mean, who’d a thunk hitting a person with a pickup truck. Twice. Then, coming back. You can run over himHe would be killed?

A fool. Bias in socioeconomic or intellectual ability (or lack thereof).