In the quiet, rural landscape near Clearwater, Minnesota, a tragic story unfolded in early February of 2008, forever altering the lives of a local family. Susan Jean Schaefer, a 57-year-old Caucasian woman, was found deceased in her residence on February 5th. Her death was not of natural causes, but rather the result of a violent act that ended her life.
The Stearns County Sheriff's Office was called to the Schaefer home after a concerned adult son, unable to reach his parents for several days, asked friends to check on them. When no one answered the door, law enforcement was contacted.
Upon entering the home in Lynden Township, deputies made a grim discovery. Susan and her 67-year-old husband, Donald Paul Schaefer, were both found dead. The subsequent investigation by the Stearns County Sheriff's Office pointed towards a murder-suicide. Preliminary autopsy findings revealed that Susan Schaefer's death was a homicide. She had sustained a fatal gunshot wound to the head.
The investigation concluded that Donald Schaefer was the sole suspect in his wife's death. Evidence indicated that after killing Susan, he then took his own life. His death was attributed to a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Friends and family later revealed that the couple had been experiencing marital problems, and there were reports of previous domestic incidents. The tragic event left their community and family, including their two adult children and a grandson, to grapple with the sudden and violent loss.
