Published: November 3, 2026.
BURNSVILLE, MN - A 49-year-old woman wanted in Dakota County on an active arrest warrant following a series of vehicle thefts in Burnsville has been taken into custody in Wisconsin, where she is being held on multiple additional charges, including motor vehicle theft, financial transaction card fraud, and possession of methamphetamine.
Shelby Lea Bottensek was arrested on Monday, November 2, 2026, and is currently being held at the Marathon County Jail in Wausau, Wisconsin, according to inmate records maintained by the Marathon County Sheriff's Office. Bottensek also has an active arrest warrant in Dakota County, Minnesota, where she faces three felony charges stemming from thefts reported in Burnsville on October 6 and 7, 2026.
According to a Dakota County criminal complaint, investigators connected Bottensek to multiple vehicle thefts after locating stolen property, including wallets, electronics, personal documents, and vehicle accessories, inside a vehicle registered in her name. Prosecutors allege that Bottensek stole property valued at at least $1,315 and attempted to make unauthorized purchases totaling at least $284.61 using a victim's stolen financial cards.
When Minnesota prepared the criminal complaint, Bottensek reportedly told investigators she was in Wisconsin. Prosecutors subsequently requested an arrest warrant, which is now active in Dakota County.
Although Bottensek is in custody in Wisconsin, the available records do not establish whether Minnesota authorities have initiated extradition proceedings or when she may be returned to Dakota County to answer the pending felony charges.
Wisconsin Jail Records List Nine Charge Entries
According to the Marathon County Sheriff's Office inmate listing, Bottensek was booked into custody on November 2, 2026, and is being held on several alleged offenses.
The records list nine charge entries, including:
Operating a motor vehicle without the owner's consent: Listed as her primary charge, with an active $2,500 cash bond.
Fraudulent use of a financial transaction card: Listed under Wisconsin court case 26CM857, with the case in pretrial status.
Motor vehicle theft: Allegedly taking and driving a vehicle without the owner's consent.
A second motor vehicle theft entry: Also alleging taking and driving a vehicle without consent.
Theft of property: Listed with an active $200 signature bond.
Theft of movable property or motor vehicle parts: A separate theft-related entry.
A second theft of movable property or motor vehicle parts entry.
Felony bail jumping: Listed with an inactive bond status.
Possession of methamphetamine: Listed as an additional offense.
The jail records show a total listed bond amount of $2,700, consisting of a $2,500 cash bond and a $200 signature bond.
Bottensek's next scheduled Wisconsin court date is November 17, 2026.
Most of the charge entries are marked as awaiting an initial appearance, while the financial transaction card fraud entry is listed in pretrial status. Although the inmate listing shows nine entries, some offenses appear more than once. The jail records do not establish whether each entry represents a separate criminal case or independently filed count.
It is also unclear whether any of the Wisconsin allegations are connected to the theft investigation in Burnsville.
Burnsville Theft Investigation Began October 7th
According to the Dakota County criminal complaint, Burnsville police responded to a residence on Summit Oaks Drive on October 7, 206, after an adult woman reported that several belongings had been stolen from her vehicle while it was parked inside her garage. The theft reportedly occurred sometime during the previous night. The missing property included a wallet valued at $25, multiple credit cards, approximately $40 in cash, a Minnesota identification card, a garage door opener valued at $10, a flashlight valued at $20, and a vehicle key fob valued at approximately $600. Investigators also learned that someone had attempted to use the woman's stolen financial cards at multiple businesses in Burnsville.
According to the complaint, three unauthorized transactions were attempted on October 7th, totaling at least $284.61. Authorities later identified Bottensek as the individual allegedly responsible for the attempted transactions. The complaint does not specify whether the transactions were successfully completed.
Two Juveniles Report Additional Vehicle Thefts
On October 7th, Burnsville police also responded to a separate theft report at a residence on Forest Park Lane. Two juvenile males reported that items had been stolen from their vehicles while they were parked in the driveway. One juvenile reported that a phone charger valued at approximately $20 had been taken from his vehicle. However, investigators discovered that the person who allegedly entered the vehicle had apparently left a cellphone behind.
According to the criminal complaint, investigators later identified the cellphone as belonging to Bottensek.
The second juvenile reported that Apple AirPods valued at approximately $200, Bose headphones valued at $150, and $250 in cash had been stolen from his vehicle. Investigators subsequently tracked the stolen AirPods to a vehicle displaying Utah license plates.
Police determined the vehicle was registered to Bottensek, giving investigators a connection between the suspect and the reported thefts.
Search Warrant Leads to Recovery of Stolen Property
After locating the stolen AirPods, authorities arranged to have Bottensek's vehicle towed and obtained a search warrant. During the search, investigators reportedly recovered numerous belongings associated with individuals other than Bottensek.
Among the recovered items were several belongings connected to the woman whose vehicle had been targeted on Summit Oaks Drive. Those items included her wallet, vehicle key fob, garage door opener, a sweatshirt, and paperwork with her name on it.
Investigators also recovered additional property, including:
A black zippered wallet
Bose headphones belonging to one of the juvenile victims
A laptop computer inside a green-and-white case
A vehicle phone charger
Mail associated with four nearby residences
A boating license belonging to one of the juvenile victims
Officers subsequently identified and contacted the owner of the recovered laptop, who confirmed that the computer had been stolen.
The discovery of mail associated with multiple nearby residences suggested that additional property owners may have been affected, although the criminal complaint does not establish whether those items were connected to separately reported thefts.
Investigators estimated that the aggregate value of the property stolen from the three identified victims was at least $1,315.
Suspect Told Investigators She Was in Wisconsin
During the investigation, law enforcement contacted Bottensek, who reportedly told officers that she had lost her cellphone and was in Wisconsin. The complaint does not indicate whether she explained the stolen property allegedly recovered from her vehicle. Because Bottensek was believed to be outside Minnesota, Dakota County prosecutors asked the court to issue an arrest warrant.
Bottensek currently has an active arrest warrant in Dakota County related to the three felony charges.
Her November 2nd arrest in Wisconsin means she is now in custody, but it does not necessarily resolve the outstanding Minnesota warrant. Available records do not show whether Dakota County has placed a hold on Bottensek, whether extradition proceedings have begun, or when she may appear in a Minnesota courtroom.
Three Felony Charges Pending in Dakota County
In Minnesota, Bottensek faces three felony counts stemming from the October investigation.
Count I — Felony Theft (Aggregating)
Prosecutors allege that Bottensek unlawfully took or retained property belonging to others between October 6 and October 7, with an aggregate value exceeding $1,000 but not exceeding $5,000.
Prosecutors filed the charge under Minnesota Statute 609.52, subdivision 2(a)(1).
Count II — Felony Receiving Stolen Property
Prosecutors allege that Bottensek knowingly possessed or otherwise handled stolen property valued at more than $1,000 but not more than $5,000 on October 7.
Prosecutors filed the charge under Minnesota Statute 609.53, subdivision 1.
Count III — Felony Financial Transaction Card Fraud
Prosecutors allege that Bottensek knowingly used or attempted to use another person's financial cards without authorization to obtain property or conduct transactions totaling more than $250 but not more than $2,500.
The charge was filed under Minnesota Statute 609.821, subdivision 2(1).
Each Minnesota felony charge carries a maximum statutory penalty of five years in prison and/or a fine of up to $10,000. Those penalties represent the maximum possible punishment for each offense and do not necessarily reflect the sentence a court would impose if Bottensek were convicted.
Wisconsin Court Date Set for November 17th; Minnesota Warrant Remains Active
As of November 3, 2026, Bottensek remained in custody at the Marathon County Jail, where records show a total listed bond amount of $2,700. Her next scheduled Wisconsin court appearance is November 17th, 2026. Meanwhile, the active arrest warrant in Dakota County remains a separate legal matter from the charges listed in Wisconsin.
It is not yet clear whether Minnesota authorities will seek to have Bottensek transferred to Dakota County while the Wisconsin cases are pending or whether any potential extradition would occur after those proceedings.
The Minnesota and Wisconsin charges remain allegations. Bottensek is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
Limitless Media News will continue monitoring the cases in both states, including developments involving the active Dakota County arrest warrant, any potential extradition proceedings, and Bottensek's upcoming Wisconsin court appearance.
Pictured: Shelby Lea Bottensek
Provided by the Marathon County Sheriff’s Office.
Sources: Dakota County criminal complaint; Marathon County Sheriff's Office inmate custody and charge records, reviewed November 3, 2026.
Written By: Will Wight
