Family of murdered ex-Nokas robber fears case may never be solved

The relatives of Metkel Betew, shot dead in an Oslo forest a year ago, now fear the case may never be resolved after the main suspect died in custody, Dagbladet reports.

Betew, 46, a convicted participant in Norway’s 2004 Nokas robbery, was found dead in a wooded area in the Oppsal district on the evening of 17 April 2025. Police described the killing as “extremely brutal” and “clearly targeted.”

Stig Millehaugen, 56, was arrested shortly after and charged with murder or complicity in murder. He died in his cell at Kongsvinger Prison on 29 January 2026 while denying the charges. The case against him will now be dropped.

Prosecutor Christian Hatlo confirmed the investigation remains active but declined to specify how many others have been charged with complicity. “We are operating in a criminal environment where progress typically takes time,” Hatlo told Dagbladet.

Marius Dietrichson, lawyer for Betew’s family, said the relatives had hoped for swift resolution but now fear they “may never get answers.” Police have previously confirmed they suspect the killing was contracted.

Court documents reveal that two days before Millehaugen’s death, Oslo District Court extended his pretrial detention. Investigators had recovered a weapon matching the caliber used in the murder on 3 December 2025, “significantly strengthening” the case against him. Millehaugen claimed he had only witnessed the killing.

Police also noted in detention orders that Millehaugen had sent a “delete” message via the encrypted app Signal to another user. Multiple phones have been seized, and further searches are planned. “The prosecution expects additional individuals to be identified as relevant to the investigation,” the 27 January ruling stated.

Betew was convicted for his role in the 2004 Nokas heist—Norway’s largest cash robbery—in which police officer Arne Sigve Klungland was killed. Released from preventive detention in 2022, Betew had prior convictions for armed robberies in the 1990s and a 2019 drug-smuggling sentence.