Police Searching for Woman After Fatal Stabbing in Bismarck

Authorities say the incident was a targeted attack and there is no known threat to the public.

Jan. 31, 2026 at 5:55am

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Bismarck Police are searching for a woman who they say is a person of interest in a fatal stabbing that occurred on Friday evening. Officers responded to an apartment in the 1000 block of Porter Avenue around 8 p.m. and found 51-year-old John Leier with a stab wound to the chest. Leier was pronounced dead at the hospital. Two women were seen on security footage leaving the apartment after the stabbing, and one has been located, but police are asking for the public's help in finding the second woman, who is described as 5'2"-5'8" tall, small in stature, and wearing faded jeans, a patterned sweater, a hooded jacket, a scarf, and boots.

Why it matters

This incident has raised concerns in the Bismarck community about public safety and the need for more information to help apprehend the suspect. The police have stated that this was a targeted attack, which may help alleviate fears of random violence, but the search for the second woman involved is ongoing.

The details

According to the police, officers responded to the apartment on Porter Avenue around 8 p.m. on Friday and found John Leier with a fatal stab wound to the chest. Two women were seen on security footage leaving the apartment after the stabbing, and one of them has been located, but the other remains at large. The police have described the woman they are searching for as being between 5'2" and 5'8" tall, small in stature, and wearing faded jeans, a patterned sweater, a hooded jacket, a scarf, and boots.

  • The incident occurred around 8 p.m. on Friday, January 31, 2026.

The players

John Leier

A 51-year-old man who was fatally stabbed in his apartment.

Bismarck Police

The law enforcement agency investigating the fatal stabbing and searching for a woman they have identified as a person of interest.

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What they’re saying

“Investigators believe the stabbing was targeted, and say there is no known threat to the public.”

— Bismarck Police

What’s next

The police are asking for the public's help in locating the second woman who was seen leaving the apartment after the stabbing. They have provided a description of the woman they are searching for and are urging anyone with information to contact the Bismarck Police Department.

The takeaway

This tragic incident has highlighted the need for vigilance and cooperation between the community and law enforcement to help address violent crimes and ensure public safety in Bismarck. The police's efforts to quickly identify and locate the person of interest are crucial in bringing the perpetrator to justice and providing closure for the victim's family.