'Nightmare' Minnesota Tinder Date Sets Ex's House On Fire

Dating is hard enough. But one Minnesota man couldn't let his old flame burn out.

26-year-old Katie Cederberg of Coon Rapids, Minnesota went on a Tinder date in 2020 with 31-year-old Mark Lacek of Mounds View, Minnesota. She was looking for love in Minnesota during the crazy COVID year.

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Katie realized early on that Mark wasn't the perfect match. But Mark did not take rejection well, and to this day this Minnesota nightmare Tinder date is still stalking and harassing Katie Cederberg.

Inside Edition (via YouTube)

Multiple reports from MinneapoliMedia, Inside Edition, and the Daily Mail recounts Katie's toxic and unpredictable relationship with Mark. What started as a shower of love with gifts of bottles of wine, gift cards, cash, and flowers turned into years of pestering, threatening phone calls, and eventually burning her townhouse.

Katie describes Mark as a "controlling narcissist with a drug problem." After their brief relationship, Mark would wait for Katie outside of her work, hack into her social media accounts blackmailing her, calling her awful names, and the list goes on. Katie went to local Minnesota authorities numerous times asking for a restraining order. But the law didn't matter to Mark.

When Katie stayed at her friend's house in September 2020, Mark came over to her townhouse again violating orders and Katie's housemate refused to answer. Mark was heated at this point and this rejection lit a fire under him...literally.

Lacek followed her home from work and knocked on her door. She didn't answer. He sped off but not before leaving her a chilling note....Then a few hours later, Lacek showed up to the house again. Her housemate, who was still home, refused to answer. Lacek went around to the backyard and threw her lawn furniture against a tree. He cracked open the back kitchen window, poured gasoline through it, and set a fire

Local Minnesota police officers told Katie to stay at a friend's house hours before Mark set her home on fire. Her housemate was saved.

Mark Lacek is serving time at the state prison in Faribault, Minnesota. He was sentenced in 2022 for 15 years and is eligible for release in September 2030. This sentence hasn't stopped Mark from harassing Katie from behind bars.

Minnesota Department of Corrections

This horrible Minnesota man has caused so much pain and fear for Katie. Unbelievable. There are many, many details in this insane Minnesota Tinder date story. You can read all the information here.

30 Ways You Might Have Already Broken the Law Today

Most of us try the best we can to be law-abiding citizens, but did you know that you may have been breaking the law without even realizing it?

BestLifeOnline has a list of 30 of the most common transgressions. How many have you been guilty of over the years?

Out of 30, I am guilty of 19. And no I won't tell you which ones.

Gallery Credit: Jeff Harkness/B1027.com

Dives Worth a Drive in South Dakota, Iowa and Minnesota

Almost every small South Dakota town has a watering hole. It’s where the locals go to kick back a few brews and engage in conversation.

Some of these establishments are located in buildings almost as old as the town itself. There might be a fresh coat of paint on the walls or new vinyl on the booth seats, but the ambiance is still reminiscent of a good ol’ dive.

If you think a "dive" is all about the sketchy clientele, the smell of the Devil’s lettuce, and stale Grain Belt, you’d be wrong. Not every dive has a bad reputation.

What makes a dive, a dive?

A dive has character. Neon beer signs and local memorabilia adorn the walls.

You might find a pool table, dart board, and a few video lottery machines.

The bartender knows the regulars by name and they know what you drink.

Some dives don't even serve food except for bags of chips and pickled eggs that sit in a jar of brine on the bar.

Dives aren't fancy. You might see 70's-style wood panels on the walls and wobbly tables leveled with a folded napkin.

Finally, the bathrooms. The bathrooms in dives are in a class by themselves and could be a whole topic on its own.

There are several small-town dives in our area with friendly faces, cheap booze with a burn, and even really good food! We use the term "dive" in the most affectionate way.

Here are some of the best and why you should go there.

Gallery Credit: Karla Brown