The Hennepin County Medical Examiner’s Office has formally identified 41-year-old Nathan Matthew Brown, 41-year-old Kristen Ann Brown, and 7-year-old Evie Ann Brown as the individuals who died in a murder-suicide at a Hopkins, Minnesota, daycare center on Wednesday. Authorities also confirmed the death of 78-year-old Alice Anne Brown, a close family relative found at a residence in Burnsville, Minnesota, later the same day. Investigators are treating the two scenes as connected.
Investigation into the Hopkins Daycare Incident
Hopkins police responded to the 200 block of Tyler Avenue North at approximately 9 a.m. Wednesday after a parent dropping off children at the in-home daycare called 911. According to a search warrant filed in Hennepin County, the witness reported hearing children screaming and discovered a man, identified as Nathan Brown, on top of a woman while armed with a screwdriver. The witness observed the man stabbing the woman and the child before fleeing the home with four children, including his own. Officers later discovered the bodies of Kristen and Evie Brown in the kitchen and located Nathan Brown deceased in an upper-level closet from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. Six children were inside the home during the incident and were physically unharmed.
Did You Know? Investigators recovered a letter written by Kristen Brown roughly two weeks before the incident, which informed at least one recipient that she intended to close the daycare due to relationship issues with Nathan Brown.
Connection to the Burnsville Homicide
The death of 78-year-old Alice Anne Brown in Burnsville is officially linked to the events in Hopkins. While police have not released a specific motive, court records and police statements indicate that Nathan Brown may have recently been living at the Burnsville address. Investigators have confirmed Alice Brown was a close family relative of the suspect. Authorities are currently working to establish the official causes of death for all individuals involved.
According to Katie Kramer, co-executive director of Violence Free Minnesota, victims frequently choose not to report abuse because they fear that involving law enforcement could escalate the danger to themselves or their families. The absence of a prior domestic violence record in this case, as noted by investigators, is not uncommon in such incidents.
Community Response and Support
A memorial of flowers, candles, and a plush toy has been established by community members outside the Hopkins home. For those affected by domestic violence, the National Domestic Violence Hotline reports that more than 12 million people in the U.S. are impacted annually. Victims can access resources for safe shelter, legal advocacy, and support groups through organizations like the National Domestic Violence Hotline or state-specific resources provided by Minnesota.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the status of the children who were at the daycare?
According to police, six children were present at the home during the attack and were not physically injured. They were later reunited with their parents.
How are the Hopkins and Burnsville deaths connected?
Authorities have stated the cases are linked and involve the same family. Nathan Brown is identified as the suspect in the deaths of his wife, daughter, and the 78-year-old relative found in Burnsville.
Was there any prior indication of trouble at the daycare?
Court records indicate that approximately two weeks before the incident, Kristen Brown sent a letter to at least one person stating that the daycare would be closing due to relationship issues with Nathan Brown.
How can communities better support those who may be experiencing private domestic crises?