Paper Left Behind After Man Shot Himself May Contain Clues to Woman's Disappearance

Police are following up leads into the disappearance of missing Eden Prairie woman—including a message her ex-boyfriend held up just before he shot himself in the Eden Prairie City Center parking lot, Police Lt. Bill Wyffels said at a Friday morning news conference.

The search continues for Mandy Matula, 24, today. Wyffels said they have a place in mind in which to search for clues. 

David Roe had a gun and alcohol in his vehicle at Eden Prairie City Center when he showed up Thursday, May 2 to talk to an investigator about Matula, according to police audio.

Officers asked to speak to Roe after he was identified as a “person of interest” and he agreed to come in. Officers followed him into the lot at about 1:30 p.m. when they discovered he had a handgun in the vehicle.

Roe put a white piece of paper up to the window before taking the handgun into his right hand, according to police audio. Officers were called to the scene with their rifles.

Roe then gripped the gun with both hands before putting it up to his chin and shooting. Wyffels said police did not know Roe was suicidal.

Roe was taken immediately to Hennepin County Medical Center. Wyffels said his condition is not currently known. An HCMC employee told Patch that there was no one at the hospital with that last name.

Visit Police Clips to hear the full police audio. Audio from the Eden Prairie City Center parking lot can be found in the second recording.

Wyffels said there was writing on the paper but would not disclose what it was. He said there was a message of some sort but that it's not known to whom the message was meant for. Police are following up on leads into Matula's whereabouts, including some leads from the paper Roe held up.

Matula, 24, of Eden Prairie, was reported missing after she failed to show up to work Thursday. She was last seen around 11:30 p.m. Wednesday, with Roe at Matula's family home.

Matula's family told police that Roe and Matula left the house and said they might have been at Miler Park in Eden Prairie at around 1:30 a.m. Thursday. 

Matula and Roe were girlfriend and boyfriend but had broken up recently, Wyffels confirmed. He would not say how long they'd been in a relationship.

Officers have searched Matula's home and Roe's home and have been following up on tips that have come in since Matula was reported missing. They've also searched Miller Park, Mitchell Lake and Round Lake Park.

At this time, police have not organized a large-scale public search but they are recommending that Eden Prairie residents interested in helping should search their own property and neighborhoods, including nearby wooded areas.

"Police have also received numerous inquiries from the public wishing to assist with the search, and appreciate the outpouring of support," a city news release stated.

Anyone with information on Matula's whereabouts is asked to call 952-949-6200. The city has created a website with the latest information about the investigation at http://www.edenprairie.org/missingperson.

Family and friends of Matula gathered near the ball fields at Miller Park Friday evening and divided up to search areas including Riley Lake, Staring Lake, Miller Creek south of Grace Church and the Richard T. Anderson Conservation Area, according to Eden Prairie News.

Both Matula and Roe graduated in 2007 from Eden Prairie High School.

Matula was an outfielder and pitcher for the University of Minnesota Duluth from 2008-11, according to the Duluth News Tribune. She works at Brunswick Zone and has worked for the city of Eden Prairie as a park maintenance worker. Grief counselors and chaplains are helping employees at the City Center on Friday.

Roe was an all-conference football player in high school and played on a state championship team. He attended the University of St. Thomas, where he played football, according to the Star Tribune.

See also: 

• Man Shoots Himself Prior To Questioning About Missing Woman

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