The Free Press, Mankato, MN

Local News

February 7, 2010

Authorities: One victim wasn’t shot

Chet Gronewald was killed by blow to the head

By Dan Nienaber Free Press Staff Writer

ST. JAMES — A 59-year-old Lewisville man killed during a double murder-suicide at his home Jan. 17 wasn’t shot, as initially reported.

Chet Gronewald, 59, died as a result of being hit in the head, Watonwan County Sheriff Gary Menssen said last week. Ashley Sullivan, Gronewald’s 25-year-old step-daughter, was killed by a gunshot.

Investigators plan to meet with Sullivan and Gronewald’s families today to give them the details of their violent deaths.

Menssen met with Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension investigators last week. They have completed their report about the murder of Sullivan and Gronewald at the hands of 28-year-old Shawn Haugen, who committed suicide after the attack in Gronewald’s home near Lewisville.

Gronewald’s wife and Sullivan’s mother, Anna Gronewald, and Sullivan’s 18-month-old son, Audrick Haugen, were also home. They were not injured. Anna Gronewald heard shots and called police just before 8 a.m. after seeing Haugen bleeding and lying on the floor.

The BCA report will include other details that haven’t been shared with the public. Family members said they also were told Haugen had been calling Gronewald’s house hours before he broke in. Menssen said more information would be available today.

Menssen did say there was evidence, in the form of cigarette butts next to Haugen’s pickup truck, that suggested he might have been waiting outside the house for awhile. Haugen’s pickup was found stuck in a snowbank along the Gronewald’s long driveway.

Also, the last person to report seeing Haugen alive was one of his friends, Menssen said. They had been together and stopped in a “couple of towns” before Haugen dropped him off at his home at about 2:30 a.m.

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