Man Sentenced To 61 Years For Killing Father, Brother
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- The St. Michael man who pleaded guilty to killing his father and brother at their home last May was sentenced to 61 years in prison.
Christopher Besser pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree murder in Wright County Court in December. He had been charged in the May 9 shooting death of his 49-year-old father, Todd Besser, and his 27-year-old brother, Blake Besser.
According to court documents, Christopher Besser told authorities he killed his family members. He said he and his father weren't getting along and he "just lost it." He also told authorities he shot his brother, who called 911 before dying, because he couldn't leave witnesses behind.
Todd Besser was an officer with the Elk River Police Department and had just gotten home from a shift when the incident happened. Christopher Besser surrendered to authorities at a gas station in Monticello shortly after the bodies of his brother and father were found.
"Cases don't get much more tragic then this one," Wright County Attorney Tom Kelly said. "Two family members murdered by one of their own. A family who had to bury two loved ones while another family member is going to spend basically the rest of his life in prison."
Christopher Besser was also ordered to pay restitution to the Crime Victims Reparations Board.