By Dan Nienaber
ROCHESTER — A two-year-old horror story moved into a new chapter Friday for a close, private family that became the focus of unwanted attention Feb. 3, 2007.
That chapter began as the family of Tracy and Alec Kruger, the father and son brutally murdered that day in their rural Waseca home, gathered around Hilary Kruger and watched as 26-year-old Michael Zabawa was handcuffed and taken out of a Rochester courtroom. They knew he was on his way to prison, where he will likely remain for the rest of his life.
The family had spent two weeks in the courtroom, surrounded by friends, as prosecutors laid out the case that convicted Zabawa of shooting and killing Tracy, 40, and Alec, 13. Hilary, now 43, was the lone survivor of the early morning attack. She was shot first as she slept, then watched, hoping she wouldn’t be shot again, as her husband and oldest son died.
Alec was calling for help at 3:24 a.m. when he was killed. Her other son, Zak, was at a friend’s house.
“I could never describe the helplessness that I felt as my 13-year-old son, Alec, begged a 911 dispatcher to please come and help his family — only to be murdered right in front of me moments later,” Hilary Kruger said during a victim impact statement, moments before Zabawa was taken away.
“And I could never describe the sadness that I now feel having to raise Zak without a father and brother.”
Kruger spent months in the hospital, recovering from life-threatening injuries, including liver damage. Her left arm had to be amputated above the elbow because it had been torn apart by a shotgun blast.
The murders also tore apart Tracy Kruger’s large family. He was an important part of annual fishing trips and winter snowmobile races.
He had just started a construction business with his oldest brother, Tony.
“His tool pouch still hangs in our tool trailer today,” Tony Kruger said during the statements. “I would give anything to have him back working with me every day. It’s been hard for me to continue without him.”
Sarah Houdek, Tracy’s sister, said her life changed forever when she received an early morning call. She was only told to get to her father’s house as soon as possible. Tracy’s family wasn’t there, and no one knew at first whether it was 10-year-old Zak or Alec who hadn’t been home.
They had to break the news to Zak after they found him at a friend’s house, Houdek said.
The funerals brought more pain.
“I had to help plan my own brother and nephew’s funeral and Hilary was not even conscious in the hospital yet when we were putting them into the ground,” she said. “She never got to say her final goodbye.”
After watching Zabawa being taken out a side courtroom door, the Kruger family gathered in a private room to gather their thoughts. Then the got on an elevator together and rode it six floors down to a hallway where a crowd of reporters waited.
Tony read a list of people to thank, including prosecutors, law enforcement officers and the people who saved Hilary Kruger’s life.
Then he was asked the question many have been asking about the murders: “Why?”
“Nobody’s ever going to have that answer,” Tony Kruger said. “It’s something we’re going to have to live with. And to be quite honest with you, if (Zabawa) does have an answer, I don’t care to hear it.”
Hilary Kruger also answered questions, saying it was her family that kept her struggling to stay alive. She maintained her composure, as she had throughout the trial.
When she was asked how she has done that, she said it hasn’t been easy.
“It’s only hardened me on the outside,” she said. “I still go home every day and cry.”
