A heartbreaking murder-suicide in Minnesota claims the lives of a 3-year-old boy and his father. Authorities confirm Gene Bartnes, 45, fatally shot his son Koltyn Bartnes while the toddler slept, then turned the gun on himself in their Holmesville Township home.
Discovery of the Tragedy
Deputies from the Becker County Sheriff’s Office responded to the residence on March 30, 2026, after Gene’s brother reported him missing from work. The brother entered the home first and found Gene dead from a gunshot wound. Officers later discovered Koltyn also deceased from a gunshot injury. The Ramsey County Medical Examiner’s Office ruled Koltyn’s death a homicide and Gene’s a suicide.
Mother’s Devastating Account
Kristi Frazier, Koltyn’s mother, describes the horrific scene based on police details. “They said that Koltyn was shot in the back when he was sleeping. Then his dad crawled into bed next to him and shot himself in the chest,” she recounts. Frazier recalls collapsing upon hearing the news: “I just want to hold my baby. I stood up and I just fell. I couldn’t even move.”
She notes Gene left three suicide notes: one addressed to her, another as an apology, and a third for law enforcement. These remain part of the ongoing investigation, preventing her from reading them.
Recent Behavioral Concerns and Past Record
Frazier observed unusual behavior from Gene in the days before the incident but did not anticipate such violence. Court records reveal Gene completed three years of probation in 2023 for a domestic assault conviction. He had pleaded guilty to punching his fiancée’s 17-year-old son at the same residence.
Community Rallies with GoFundMe Support
A GoFundMe campaign supports Frazier amid her grief, raising over $7,000 by midweek. Organizers highlight her role as a dedicated daycare provider: “No parent should ever have to experience this kind of pain.” Funds cover funeral expenses and family needs during this loss. Images shared show Koltyn with his mother and siblings, underscoring the family’s pain.
Official Sheriff’s Statement
The Becker County Sheriff’s Office issued this update: “On March 30, 2026, at approximately 12:39 PM, the Becker County Sheriff’s Office received a call from an individual who went to check on his brother because he had not shown up for work today. The individual went to his brother’s residence in Holmesville Township and found his brother deceased from an apparent gunshot wound. When deputies arrived on scene, a child was also found deceased from an apparent gunshot wound. The deceased have been identified as Gene Russell Bartnes, 45, and Gene’s son, Koltyn Wayne Bartnes, age 3, both of Detroit Lakes. The MN Bureau of Criminal Apprehension Crime Lab is assisting the Becker County Sheriff’s Office with the investigation.”
