Mary A. Corneliusen, a 66-year-old resident of Warroad, Minnesota, tragically lost her life on August 28, 2023. The incident occurred at her home, where she was fatally shot.
The circumstances surrounding Mary's death were deeply troubling. Her husband, David Allen Corneliusen, aged 63, was arrested and charged with second-degree murder in connection with the shooting. According to reports, David called 911 after the incident, calmly admitting to killing his wife.
When law enforcement arrived at the scene, he was waiting to be arrested.
During the investigation, David Corneliusen stated that he had shot his wife with a pistol following a verbal argument. The couple's daughter identified Mary as the victim of the fatal shooting, which took place on that Monday night in northwestern Minnesota.
Mary Corneliusen was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and had lived a rather nomadic lifestyle after leaving home at a young age. Her untimely death left family and friends in mourning. A funeral service for Mary was held on Thursday, September 7, 2023, at Helgeson Funeral Home in Warroad, Minnesota.
The case took a significant turn on October 31, 2024, when David Corneliusen pleaded guilty to the shooting death of his wife. He was offered a Norgaard plea, which means he admitted to his role in the crime while not remembering the specific details of the incident. As a result of his plea, a trial that was set to begin the following week was canceled. David Corneliusen now faces up to 40 years in prison, with his sentencing scheduled for December 16, 2024.
Mary A. Corneliusen's death was tragically part of a larger pattern of domestic violence incidents in Minnesota. Her case was included in a report highlighting the highest known number of Minnesotans killed from domestic violence in 2023. The report, which tracked intimate partner homicides, confirmed 39 known victims that year, marking the highest confirmed number since the organization began tracking such incidents in 1989.
