Continued: Blaine man, who survived wife's 'suicide' plot, died of natural causes

A Blaine man found dead only five hours after his wife was released from jail for attempting to kill him in December, died of natural causes, an autopsy has found.

Noel Hanson, 57, was found dead on the couple's bathroom floor on Aug. 11 -- just after Sandra Hanson -- whom he had forgiven for trying to kill him -- returned to their Blaine home to serve her probation.

At the time, Anoka County Lt. Paul Sommer said it was an "ironic set of circumstances." It turns out, he said Tuesday, that it was purely coincidental.

Sandra Hanson admitted to authorities that she attempted a murder-suicide in early December, writing to a friend in an e-mail that the couple was facing eviction and planned to kill themselves. When police investigated, they smelled natural gas, and Hanson admitted that she had turned on the oven with the pilot light unlit while her husband was asleep and that he never knew about their financial problems or the suicide plan.

Noel Hanson pleaded with the court not to send his wife of 25 years to prison, and she was sentenced to 20 years' probation with community service.

Noel Hanson had a history of diabetes and heart problems. Sommer said that toxicology tests revealed nothing abnormal in his system. The case is expected to be closed by the end of the week. Sandra Hanson was not arrested or charged after her husband's death.

ABBY SIMONS

RED LAKE

Families of victims and survivors of the 2005 school shooting on the Red Lake Indian Reservation have reached an undisclosed settlement with the company hired to come up with crisis plans for the school.

A hearing on the settlement between the plaintiffs and Burnsville-based MacNeil Environmental Inc. is set for 4 p.m. next Tuesday in Hennepin County District Court before Judge Lloyd Zimmerman.

"The parties have reached an amicable resolution of the case without any admission of liability by MacNeil Environmental," said Philip Sieff, an attorney for many of the victims' families.

Roger Gross, an attorney for MacNeil Environmental, reiterated that statement to the Associated Press on Tuesday. Neither attorney would release details of the settlement, reached last month. Details were not available in court documents.

Jeffrey Weise, 16, killed seven people at the school on March 21, 2005, before killing himself. He also killed his grandfather and his grandfather's girlfriend earlier in the day.

Others were injured at the school, including two students who suffered brain injuries and, according to their attorneys, will need continuing care.

The lawsuits filed on behalf of about two dozen people -- including injured students, teachers and victims' family members -- alleged that MacNeil Environmental wasn't qualified to create an emergency plan for the Red Lake School District.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

COON RAPIDS

Coon Rapids police are asking for the public's help in finding the person caught on camera driving away with a stolen Bobcat and flatbed trailer.

The items, taken Sept. 16 from an area near Hwy. 10 and NW. Foley Boulevard, included a Bobcat model S250, a large frame skid loader with an 8.5-foot bucket that had been loaded on a flatbed trailer. The trailer, described as a Felling Ft-12A double-axel, has a Minnesota license plate 5808CBT, said Detective Dave Westberg.

Police are looking for a full-size blue or green pickup with a regular cab and tool box across the cab, Westberg said. The victims are  offering a $2,500 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible. Anybody with information may call Coon Rapids police at 763-767-6417.

TIM HARLOW

WHITE BEAR LAKE

A White Bear Lake man who admitted that he "buried his head in the sand" and hoped his $99,000 tax bill would just go away has been charged with 10 felonies, the Minnesota Department of Revenue said Tuesday.

Michael Gagan, 52, was charged with five counts of failing to file a tax return and five counts of failing to pay income taxes from 2002 to 2006, according to a complaint filed in Ramsey County District Court. Gagan, president and owner of Shamrock Exteriors Inc., allegedly deposited more than $530,000 into the company's bank account from 2002 to 2006. During that time, he paid $102,000 to subcontractors, but did not remit any withholding taxes to the state, the complaint said.

Gagan and Shamrock Exteriors are currently not licensed to work on residential buildings, the complaint said.

Each of the 10 felony counts is punishable by up to five years in prison, up to a $10,000 fine, or both.

TIM HARLOW

CHASKA

The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is offering a $500 reward for information leading to those responsible for setting a blue mail collection box on fire Saturday night in Chaska.

Police discovered the burning mailbox outside the city's post office at 3rd and Pine Streets about 8 p.m. but were unable to save any of the parcels inside, said Sgt. Jon Kehrberg.

It's not clear what was used to start the fire, but it did not appear to have started as a result of a pipe bomb. Kehrberg said it was too early to determine a motive.

People who placed mail in the collection box after 4:30 p.m. Saturday should notify the intended recipients and contact the Chaska Post Office at 952-448-4392.

Anyone with information is asked to call Chaska police at 952-448-4200.

TIM HARLOW