LINCOLN COUNTY, Minn. — The Lincoln County Sheriff's Office is investigating what it believes was a murder-suicide involving two senior citizens.
The Midwest Medical Examiner's Office ruled the death of 81-year-old Sandra Goertz on Jan. 4 was a homicide and the death of 90-year-old Irwin Goertz was a suicide.
Sandra's cause of death was multiple gunshot wounds and Irwin's death was caused by a single gunshot wound, according to the report.
"A lot of people don't realize the impact that an incident like this has on a rural, tight-knit community like Lake Benton. Many folks here are related to each other, and most people know one another. When a tragedy like this occurs, it's like everyone has lost a family member," said Lincoln County Sheriff Bob Bushman, in a release.
The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is investigating with the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office to determine the circumstances that preceded the shooting, according to a statement.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
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