Woman murdered in Blue Earth County is identified; man found shot
A woman found dead in rural Blue Earth County Thursday has been identified, and authorities say a man they were looking for in connection to her death was found unresponsive from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
According to the Blue Earth County Sheriff’s Office, a 911 caller reported finding his friend unresponsive in a home on 515th Avenue just north of Hwy. 60 in rural Lake Crystal at around 7:15 p.m.
The friend, a woman identified as 57-year-old Kristi Joy Gardner, of rural Lake Crystal, was confirmed dead at the scene. The sheriff’s office said the circumstances surrounding the death were “suspicious" and the medical examiner has since determined that she died by homicide.
In an updated press release issued Friday night, authorities noted that a search for a 64-year-old New Ulm man was initiated after it was determined Gardner had been in a relationship with him.
The man was found unresponsive due to an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound inside a vehicle in a garage at his home. He was taken to a Minneapolis hospital, where he remained unresponsive as of the Friday update from the sheriff's office.
The incident is currently under investigation.
Note: The details provided in this story are based on law enforcement’s latest version of events, and may be subject to change.
