BREWSTER, MN – An unsolved murder from 2015 that rocked a small Minnesota town still presents more questions than answers as investigators put the proverbial crosshairs on the deceased victim’s husband which ultimately resulted in a jury finding the man not guilty, with the victim’s family feeling as though authorities have effectively dropped the investigation after a failed prosecution, according to PEOPLE.
When police reviewed the crime scene at the residence of Chris Kruse on August 19th, 2015, where his wife, Jan Pigman-Kruse, had been fatally shot with a shotgun while reportedly next to her sleeping husband in bed, investigators observed signs of a break-in but also some inexplicable inconsistencies. Police reportedly saw a broken basement window where a suspect could’ve entered the home but also observed the muddy ground just outside the window while the carpet beneath the window bore no footprints.
Two spent Winchester 12‑gauge shotgun shells were reportedly recovered outside of the couple’s bedroom door, with investigators finding live ammunition inside the couple’s home and Chris’ truck which did not match the spent shell casings. However, a subsequent search of Chris’ workshop not far from the residence resulted in authorities recovering two 12‑gauge shotguns alongside a box of Winchester shells.
After over four years of investigating, prosecutors charged Chris with his wife’s murder in December of 2019, despite the victim’s immediate family casting doubt on the prosecution’s theory. Prosecutors alleged marital issues stemming from money as the motive, such as a failed bid to purchase a Spider Lake property days before Jan’s murder, while also pointing to a $150,000 life insurance policy on the victim.
However, there were also holes in the prosecution’s theory, such as pointing to the recovered shotguns from Chris’ workshop. On the evening of the murder, the driveway of the couple’s home was reportedly wet, yet no tire tracks were to be found which cast doubt on Chris potentially dropping the purported murder weapon back off at his workshop.
A case resting heavily on theories and circumstantial evidence went to trial in late January 2020, resulting in two weeks of testimony from various experts, witnesses and the jury reviewing hours of recorded police interviews. Come February 13th, 2020, the jury delivered their verdict of not guilty.
In a subsequent televised interview, Jan’s mother recalled the sentiments in the courtroom when the not guilty verdict was read, saying, “We were all just cheering and hugging each other,” illustrating how much the victim’s family felt as though prosecutors set their sights on the wrong man. Chris also expressed frustration during a Dateline appearance years after the trial, emphasizing how he felt as though police were seemingly not exploring any other possibilities in terms of suspects, adding, “I don’t feel they put any effort into this.”
The Nobles County Attorney’s Office, which prosecuted the case back in 2020, is reportedly not actively investigating, according to PEOPLE, the case today or considering any other potential suspects in Jan’s murder.
Comments