This story has been updated by Chris Larson
5:30 p.m. update 3/31/26:
The deceased have now been identified as Gene Russell Bartnes, 45, and his son, Koltyn Wayne Bartnes, 3, both of Detroit Lakes. According to the Ramsey County Medical Examiner’s Office, Koltyn’s death has been ruled a homicide, and Gene’s death has been ruled a suicide.
ORIGINAL STORY:
BECKER COUNTY, Minn. – A man and child are dead in Becker County.
Authorities say they were alerted shortly after 12:30 PM Monday, March 30 that a person went to check on his brother as he hadn’t shown up for work.
When he got to the brother’s home in Holmesville Township, he found him and a child dead from a gunshot wound.
Authorities say the scene appears to be isolated.
The investigation is ongoing with the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension’s crime lab assisting the sheriff’s office.
