Suspect In Murders Kills Himself During Police Questioning

"NEW TOWN, ND — The 911 call came at 3:17 p.m. Sunday from a young boy who told Mountrail County dispatchers that a man had come into his home and shot his family.

"The boy hung up before dispatchers could get more information, but the call was traced to 301 6th St. N. in New Town. There authorities found four victims, a woman and three of her grandchildren, identified by the Mountrail County Sheriff’s Office as Martha Johnson, 64, Ben Schuster, 13, Julia Schuster, 10 and Luke Schuster, 6.

"Neighbors said the 12-year-old boy who called 911, also Johnson’s grandchild, survived by playing dead, which New Town Police Chief Arthur Walgren confirmed.

"About 7 p.m. Sunday, law enforcement learned a man had made statements about the crime. While investigators were questioning him in Parshall, about 17 miles east of New Town, he killed himself with a knife, said Sheriff Ken Halvorson.

"Johnson was caring for five grandchildren, according to friends and neighbors. The fifth grandchild was not home at the time, Walgren said. Her husband, Harley, also was not home at the time."

From The Dickinson Press...

Ongoing Investigation Indicates Murder/Suicide

"FARGO, ND — Authorities believe that a man found dead in his Fargo home on Tuesday fatally shot his 51-year-old wife before shooting himself.

"The body of Daniel Martin Williams, 54, was found by a relative inside his home Tuesday morning, Fargo Police Lt. Joel Vettel said. Officers who responded to the call also found Linda Marie Williams inside. Both had been fatally shot, Vettel said.

"Vettel declined to comment on a possible motive, saying the investigation was ongoing, but said a `very preliminary` investigation indicates that `Mr. Williams shot the female and then turned the gun on himself.`

"Vettel said that both bodies were being transported to Bismarck for autopsies. Forensic investigators were expected to remain at the home well into Tuesday evening, he added.

"Murders are rare in North Dakota. According to FBI statistics, the state had 10 murders or non-negligent homicides in 2010, the most recent year for which full data is available."

From sfgate.com...

Family Member Finds Bodies Of Dead Couple

"HEBRON, ND — The Morton County sheriff's department is investigating an apparent murder-suicide in Hebron.

"The Bismarck Tribune reports that 56-year-old Dwile Krueger and 57-year-old Rosi Krueger were found dead early Sunday morning. They were married.

"Sheriff Dave Shipman says in a statement that a family member found the bodies of a man and woman in the couple's bedroom early Sunday morning [possibly here according to pipl.com]. He says a gun was recovered from the scene.

"Shipman says autopsies are scheduled for Tuesday morning."

From inforum.com...

Another Tragic Teen Murder/Suicide

"WILLISTON, ND — Two Williston teens have died as a result of an apparent murder-suicide Monday afternoon at mobile home park at the 800 block of 28th Street West.

"Police say Anne White, 16, was pronounced dead at the Mercy Hospital in Williston. She died after her former boyfriend Gabriel Dye, 18, shot her with a semi-automatic handgun and then turned the gun on himself.

"Dye died in an air ambulance en route to Minot or after arriving at the Trinity Hospital in Minot from the self-inflicted gunshot wound.

"Around 3:18 p.m., Dye reportedly used a semi-automatic pistol to shoot White in her front yard at the Glenn Villa Trailer Park.

"`It happened in the front yard of her house,` said Williston Police Detective Mark Hanson. `Gabe Dye shot Anne White and then shot himself.`

"He said a semi-automatic pistol was used by Dye in both shootings.

"Hanson said they had been in a dating relationship in the past, but that had ended two months ago.

"He said both teens had been transported to Mercy Medical Center in Williston. Dye was being been airlifted to Minot.

"White was a student at Williston High School and Dye was a freshman at Williston State College.

"Hanson said the investigation will continue. The teens' bodies will be sent to the North Dakota State Medical Examiner in Bismarck.

"Hanson said the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation and the Williams County Sheriff's Office are assisting with the investigation."

From The Bismarck Tribune...

Welfare Check Finds Pair Dead

"DICKINSON, ND — Dickinson police are investigating the deaths of a couple as a murder-suicide.

"The bodies of 65-year-old Thomas Bauman and 64-year-old Darlene Bauman were found in their home Friday night.

"Senior Patrol Officer Brian Koskovich says one of the couple's children asked authorities to do a welfare check after the family was unable to get in contact with the couple.

"Koskovich says authorities do not know when the couple died. Autopsies are planned.

"No other details of the deaths were immediately released, but Koskovich says there is no reason to believe anyone besides the couple was involved."

From WDAY.com...

Nameless North Dakota Couple Found Dead

"WALHALLA, ND - A man and woman were found dead in a home in Walhalla, N.D., Thursday morning.

"The Pembina Co. Sheriff’s Office responded to a 911 call to the home at about 3 a.m., said Chief Deputy Sheriff Jeff Osvold.

"The home is located within the city limits of Walhalla, a town of about 1,000 located 100 miles north and west of Grand Forks.

"Authorities are not releasing the names of the man or woman, pending an investigation and notification of family members, Osvald said. Other information, such as their ages or relationship to one another or how they died, also is not being released at this time, he said.

"The bodies were sent to Bismarck for autopsies, he said. The Bureau of Criminal Investigation is assisting in the investigation."

Source: GrandForksHerald.com...

Couple Had History Of Domestic Violence

"Grand Forks, ND - Police say it appears a Grand Forks man found dead in his home Tuesday shot his wife then killed himself with a .22-caliber handgun.

"The couple was identified as Lyle W. Cordts, 50, and Julie Rae Cordts, 47, who lived together at 1502 12th Ave. S., according to a news release issued by the Grand Forks Police Department today.

"Officers found Lyle Cordts lying dead on a bed in a bedroom; they found Julie Cordts unconscious on the floor of the same bedroom, the release states.

"Investigators located two spent casings consistent with the handgun and the head wounds of both husband and wife.

"Police believe Lyle Cordts shot his wife and then killed himself a few hours before officers entered the home about 10 a.m. Tuesday, according to the release.

"Julie Cordts was taken to Altru Hospital, which is not releasing information on her condition.

"Preliminary autopsy results for Lyle Cordts show he died from a single self-inflicted gunshot wound.

"Police and court records revealed that the couple had a history of domestic violence."

From GrandForksHerald.com...

Bodies Found In Different States

"Dickinson, ND - Authorities say the deaths of a Dickinson couple may be the result of a murder-suicide.

"Police say the body of 41-year-old Jamie Osborn was found by passers-by in a wooded area in Miles City, Mont., on Sunday afternoon. Police say the body of his 43-year-old wife, Tracey, was found Monday morning inside a vehicle in Dunn County, about 50 miles north of Dickinson.

"Lt. Rod Banyai says Jamie Osborn appears to have died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

"Banyai says the cause of Tracey Osborn's death is not being released until an autopsy is done. He says it appears she was the victim of a homicide."

From KXMB.com...

Friends Make Grisly Discovery

"UPHAM, ND - The death of an Upham man and woman Friday night is under investigation as a possible murder-suicide, according to the McHenry County Sheriff's Office.

"Nolan Hett and Julie Lawless, both 38, were found dead in their rented home in rural Upham by friends, who reported the deaths to the sheriff's department about midnight.

"McHenry County Sheriff Marv Sola said the case is being treated as a domestic violence incident but the details remain under investigation.

"What was known Saturday is that the two had visited a bar near their home Friday night, where others reported the couple showed no indication of any type of conflict between them. Concerns arose later that night after Hett called a friend, which prompted the check that led to the discovery of their deaths.

"Lawless was shot in the back of a leg and her stomach, while Hett was shot once in the chest, Sola said. Autopsies are being conducted in Bismarck.

"Hett was a railroad employee who had lived in the Upham area about 10 years. Lawless was a home-health worker who moved into the area later."

Source MinotDailyNews...