Minnesota Monster, a FOX 9 documentary about former Twin Cities teacher and basketball coach Aaron Hjermstad, traces how a 2021 traffic stop in Idaho led investigators to evidence of abuse involving many more boys than the case had initially revealed. FOX 9 reports that more than 120 young boys were abused over more than a decade. That figure and the documentary’s “most prolific” framing belong to FOX 9’s reporting; they are not an independently established ranking of offenders.
Who is the “Minnesota Monster” documentary about?
The documentary is about Aaron Hjermstad, a former Twin Cities teacher and basketball coach. FOX 9 reports that he worked at Excell Academy and Best Academy and volunteered as a coach at Hospitality House. Its coverage draws on interviews with victims, families, investigators and prosecutors, and examines institutional decisions and missed warnings as well as the criminal investigation. FOX 9’s documentary report
The label “most prolific” is a characterization used in FOX 9’s coverage and by interviewees, not a demonstrated comparative ranking of all offenders. The case-specific figures should also be kept distinct: FOX 9 reports more than 120 young boys were abused, while investigators found a list of video files marked with 127 sets of initials. The initials are not, by themselves, a confirmed victim count. FOX 9’s report on the investigation
How the case developed
The first reported warning
FOX 9 reports that a victim came forward in 2015, but prosecutors initially declined to file charges. Hennepin County prosecutor Dan Allard told FOX 9 that the earlier prosecutor believed the single allegation could not be proved beyond a reasonable doubt. That account explains the decision as described by the prosecutor; it does not resolve the broader questions about how institutions responded to warnings.
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The 2021 conviction and Idaho stop
In November 2021, Hjermstad was convicted of sexually abusing four boys, according to FOX 9. Before sentencing, he left Minnesota and was stopped in Idaho Falls. A search of his rental car uncovered laptops, hard drives and other digital evidence. FOX 9 describes that discovery as the turning point that opened a much larger investigation.
The investigation that followed
Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension Special Agent Janese Brown led the investigation, FOX 9 reports. Investigators processed a large volume of digital evidence, identified additional victims and found the list bearing 127 sets of initials. Brown described the conduct as “so calculated and planned out,” in an interview with FOX 9. The list offers context for the scale of the investigation, but it should not be treated as a final count of victims.
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The later criminal case
FOX 9 reports that Hjermstad was convicted again in 2025, involving additional boys, and sentenced to life. Its coverage also describes civil litigation involving organizations connected to the case. Criminal convictions, reported allegations and civil claims are different matters; FOX 9’s articles are not a substitute for court dockets or opinions, and the current status of any civil litigation should be checked in the underlying records.
What the documentary examines about institutions
The film’s reporting connects the investigation to institutional decisions, including missed warnings and questions about screening. FOX 9 reports that the first known victim’s 2015 disclosure did not lead to charges at the time, and that the case later involved organizations where Hjermstad worked or coached. The outlet also reports that a Minnesota Supreme Court decision allowed a lawsuit against Harvest Best Academy concerning reference checks, and that the lawsuit settled in 2025. Those are reported legal developments, not a complete account of the court record or a finding about every organization named in coverage.
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By placing these events alongside victims’ and investigators’ accounts, the documentary asks how warning signs can be missed and why accountability may come years after an initial report. Its interviews and reported narrative help explain the case, while the formal legal record remains the source for precise claims about charges, rulings and outcomes.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Where to watch Minnesota Monster
When FOX 9 published its September 23, 2026 coverage, it listed FOX9.com, the FOX LOCAL app and FOX 9’s YouTube channel as viewing destinations. Availability can change, so check FOX 9’s current listing before watching. FOX 9’s viewing and documentary page
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