Minneapolis Family Murder-Suicide Shocks Upscale Community On Lake Minnetonka
A Minnesota family was found dead in an apparent murder-suicide in their upscale Minneapolis suburb home, police say. The couple and their three children had not reportedly been seen for at least several days before their bodies were discovered. The children were unexpectedly absent from school for three days.
Police in South Lake Minnetonka police did a wellness check on the family early Thursday afternoon. While the family has not officially been identified, the business allegedly owned by the father posted an online notice referencing the deaths of Brian Short and his family.
Interim Chief Mike Siitari said the department will not be releasing details about the murder suicide at this time, but noted that there is “no threat or danger to the community” of South Lake Minnetonka. The Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office was still in the midst of investigating and processing evidence from a “complex crime scene,” Chief Siitari added
“Obviously it’s an extremely tragic event and it’s going to take some time to sort through,” the Minneapolis area law enforcement official said.
The children in the family attended Minnetonka High School, MSN News reports. The school district made counseling available for students on Friday. The children have been unofficially identified as Cole, 17; Madison, 15, and Brooklyn, 14.
“This is an incredibly difficult time for our school community,” Principal Jeffrey Erickson stated in a letter sent to parents at the Minnesota high school.
The home was located in the Greenwood area, a village on the shores of Lake Minnetonka that approximately 700 people call home. The cul-de-sac leading to the home of the murdered family is currently still taped off as a crime scene. The family reportedly purchased the $2 million home in 2011.
Hennepin County property record cards indicate that the home where police officers are investigating the possible murder suicide is owned by Brian and Karen Short. Brian Short is reportedly the founder of AllNurses.com – a resource website portal for nurses.
A biography section on the website stated that Short, his wife, and three children lived in the Minneapolis area. He started the AllNurses.com website in the 1990s after being unable to find nursing information online while studying to join the profession.
Excerpt from the notice posted on the website read the following.
“It is with great regret and a very heavy heart that I have to share some very sad news with you. There is no easy way to say this. … Brian and his family have been killed. The news is calling it an apparent murder-suicide. … No matter what the details are, the results are still the same … a very tragic loss for the extended families, friends, co-workers and this nursing community.”
Doug Plocek, a neighbor of the Short family, told the local media that he was shocked when he attempted to return home from work on Thursday only to find the the street blocked by police cruisers. Plocek said the children were routinely seen spending time in their quiet neighborhood with friends and recalled the family being friendly.
“They were good neighbors,” Plocek said during an interview with the Minneapolis Star Tribune. “This whole thing, we’re trying to wrap our heads around it.”
[Image via: Facebook]
