On a quiet cul-de-sac in Apple Valley, Minnesota, a tragic event unfolded that ended the life of 60-year-old Caucasian female, Janice L. Petrovich. On February 22, 2020, Janice, along with her 23-year-old son Jonathan "Jack" Petrovich, was found shot to death in her home. The grim discovery was made by a family member who then alerted the authorities.
Further investigation by the Apple Valley Police Department and the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension revealed a heartbreaking scenario of a
murder-suicide. Evidence pointed to Janice's older son, 27-year-old Alexander J. Petrovich, as the perpetrator. It was determined that Alexander fatally shot his mother and younger brother before taking his own life with a self-inflicted gunshot wound. In addition to the human lives lost, the family's two dogs were also found fatally shot inside the residence.
Court documents filed in the wake of the tragedy shed more light on the circumstances leading up to the violence. Family members and others who knew Alexander described him as having mental health issues, with one affidavit noting he was prone to "fits of rage and confrontational behavior." While Alexander had a minimal criminal history, police had been called to the home on previous occasions for domestic disputes. In one instance, Alexander had been convicted of criminal damage to property after punching numerous holes in the drywall of the family home during an argument. The investigation into this family tragedy concluded with the determination that Alexander Petrovich acted alone in the killings of his mother and brother before taking his own life.
