Two dead in Lake Benton homicide

The town of Lake Benton was shocked to learn of a shooting incident that resulted in two deaths on Thursday, Jan. 4.
The death of Sandra Wilson Goertz, 81, of Lake Benton was ruled a homicide by the Midwest Medical Examiner's Office in Ramsey, MN, due to multiple gunshot wounds.
The death of her husband, Edward Goertz, 80, was ruled a suicide caused by a single gunshot wound.
The Lincoln County Sheriff's Office and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension are investigating the circumstances that may have led to the shootings.
"A lot of people don't realize the impact that an incident like this has on a rural, tight-knit community like Lake Benton," said Lincoln County Sheriff Bob Bushman. "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."
The Lincoln County Sheriff's Communications Center received a 911 call at 3:08 p.m. on Jan. 4 reporting a medical emergency at a residence on South Center Street in Lake Benton.
The Lake Benton First Responders, Lake Benton Fire Department, Tyler Ambulance, Tyler Police Department and Lincoln County Sheriff's Department arrived at the scene and found a critically injured adult male and a deceased adult female at the residence.
Edward Goertz was transported to the Tyler Hospital where he later died.
A firearm was recovered at the scene.
Investigators from the Buffalo Ridge Drug and Violent Crime Task Force, Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension Agents and the BCA Crime Scene Unit also responded to assist with the investigation.
The deceased were transported to the Midwest Medical Examiner's Office for autopsies to determine the exact cause and manners of death.
The investigators determined that this was an isolated incident and there was no threat to the community.