In the early morning hours of June 4, 2021, the life of 52-year-old Caucasian female Karen Lynn Ertelt-Wanner came to a tragic end in Wahpeton, North Dakota. Police were dispatched to a residence on the city's north side after receiving a report from a woman who stated she had been threatened by a man with a gun. As law enforcement approached the home, a single gunshot was heard from within.
Upon making entry into the residence, members of the Southern Valley Special Response Team
discovered the bodies of Karen Ertelt-Wanner and 62-year-old Gregory Zander. The subsequent investigation and an official determination from the medical examiner's office revealed the incident to be a murder-suicide. It was determined that Ertelt-Wanner died as a result of multiple gunshot wounds, while Zander's death was caused by a single, self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Karen, who was born in Valley City, North Dakota, and grew up in the Fingal area, was remembered for her big heart and empathetic nature. She had worked at various establishments in the Lisbon and Forman areas before her most recent position in patient intake at CHI Hospitals. A mother to four children and a grandmother, she was described as someone who could talk to anyone and was always ready to help and listen. Her death left a void in the lives of her many family members and friends.
