Deaths of Ramsey couple thought to be murder-suicide

The Anoka County Sheriff's Office is investigating as a murder-suicide the deaths of a husband and wife who were found fatally shot late Friday in Ramsey.

According to the sheriff's office, Ramsey police were called to a home in the 16200 block of Azurite Street where "dispatchers could hear screaming and crying."

When police arrived, they found Courtney Marie Monson, 30, and Bryce William Monson, 41, dead.

Authorities said Courtney Monson "had sought refuge" in the basement with three of her four children when Bryce Monson shot her "multiple times with a semiautomatic handgun and then shot himself."

The children — ages 12, 9, 3 and 2 — are being cared for by family members. Their names will not be released, the Sheriff's Office said.

Ramsey police, the Sheriff's Office and the Midwest Medical Examiner's Office are investigating.

Several Facebook posts said that Courtney Monson was active with her children's various sports teams, a board member of the Anoka Ramsey Athletic Association and a member at Hope Fellowship in Ramsey.

"This is a woman who was completely dedicated and would encourage people without realizing she was doing that," Kutches said. She called the gym Courtney's "safe place."

"She found a place here where she felt safe and accepted, she could come here and be herself," Kutches said.

"It's a big loss, everybody is so grief-stricken and saddened by the whole thing. We ache for those kids."

Friends said Courtney Monson had been seeking counseling to help her leave her husband and was looking for a job.

Court records show that Bryce Monson was convicted of fleeing a police officer, and that he pleaded guilty to a DWI and driving with an open bottle.

Karen Zamora • 612-673-4647