A Burleigh County detective said Edward Royal Reitan confessed last week to shooting Robin Enockson about 14 years ago in a mobile home south of Driscoll.

Detective Les Witkowski talked about the confession and Reitan's motives for the shooting at a probable cause hearing May 20. The meeting between the investigator, prosecutor and judge was held to determine if there was enough evidence to charge Reitan, 53, with murder. A tape recording of the conversation was initially sealed but was released Wednesday to newspaper and television reporters.

Testimony by Witkowski dominated the approximately 15-minute tape. The lead investigator gave a brief description of the Dec. 20, 1990, murder of the 34-year-old Enockson before talking about Reitan's confession and motive.

Reitan became a suspect shortly after Enockson was found dead of multiple gunshot wounds. There was never enough evidence to charge Reitan although he was interviewed twice and failed a polygraph test, Witkowski said.

That changed when Reitan called 911 at 2 a.m. May 20 from a gas station across the street from the sheriff's department. Reitan came from Washington state to make the call.

In an interview shortly before he was arrested, Reitan gave a detailed description of the murder scene, Witkowski said.

"The information was consistent with what was observed at the crime scene," Witkowski said.

South Central Judge Burt Riskedahl asked Witkowski about motive.

The motive for the murder was an argument Enockson had with his wife, Loretta.

Witkowski said Reitan was living with Loretta's mother in Bismarck when Loretta came to the house with a story about a fight she had with Enockson at a former Bismarck bar. Loretta told "all present at the residence" that Enockson assaulted her, Witkowski said.

Reitan told Witkowski that he was upset by what he heard and that he "went to take care of business."

Reitan's attorney, Robert Bolinske Jr., said he didn't know about the confession and hadn't talked to his client. Bolinske is a public defender who was assigned to the case.

Bolinske said he's not sure how he'll handle the case but he plans to "just try to get the best possible results."

He said he didn't know anything about the murder until last week and was surprised when he noticed Reitan among his new clients.

"When the case showed up I was like 'this is like a book,' " Bolinske said. "It's not reality."

Reitan is charged with murder. The class AA felony carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment without parole. A preliminary hearing - where the state is required to prove it has enough evidence to charge the crime and the person charged likely committed the offense - has not been scheduled.