On the evening of June 3, 2022, the life of 18-year-old Chandra Lanae Pelch, a female from Medford, Minnesota, was tragically cut short in her home. Authorities were called to a residence on the 200 block of 1st Street Northwest at approximately 8:22 p.m. for what was initially described as a "suspicious incident". Upon their arrival, they discovered a heartbreaking scene.
Inside the home, Chandra and a 19-year-old male, identified as Jerome Charles Caldwell, were found deceased.
The nature of their deaths was immediately investigated by the Steele County Sheriff's Office with assistance from the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. In the days that followed, the investigation revealed the devastating truth of what had transpired.
The Steele County Coroner's Office later confirmed that the deaths were the result of a murder-suicide. Autopsy results showed that Chandra Lanae Pelch died from multiple gunshot wounds to her head and chest. Jerome Caldwell was identified as the shooter. It was determined that he fatally shot Pelch before turning the gun on himself. Caldwell's injuries were reported as a non-fatal gunshot wound to the chest and a fatal, self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. The investigation concluded that Caldwell was the sole suspect, and with his death, the case was closed. Chandra, who had graduated from CHOICE Technical Academy in 2021, left behind an infant son.
