FARIBAULT, Minn — A death inside a Faribault home Monday that was originally called "suspicious" is now being pursued as a homicide.
Faribault police were called to a home on the 20th block of Mitchell Drive Monday around 2:15 p.m. During a press conference Tuesday, Police Chief John Sherwin said the 911 call came from someone who was at the home for a scheduled appointment. He said the person called police because "they observed some things (inside the home) that caused them concern about the welfare of the occupant."
When squads arrived they found a deceased man inside the residence. Sherwin said officers realized that the man's car was missing, prompting them to place an alert on the vehicle. Shortly after the alert went out, Sherwin said they were informed that the vehicle was in the possession of a law enforcement agency in Iowa.
Faribault police and agents from the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) worked with Iowa law enforcement to take custody of the vehicle and are currently processing it for additional evidence.
On Wednesday, Faribault Police identified the man as 76-year-old Gary Robert Lehmeyer. No arrests have been made, but Sherwin said evidence gathered from the vehicle in Iowa has provided them with leads. He also added that he didn't believe it was a random act.
"This is a very active investigation," Sherwin said. "We are pointed in a direction but as far as imminent arrests or anything, I don't have any information on that at this time."
*This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
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