A woman in Brewster, Minn., was shot to death in her own bed early Wednesday, and her husband told investigators that an intruder did it, the Nobles County Sheriff's Office said.

The woman's husband called 911 at 2:40 a.m. Wednesday to say someone had entered their home while they slept. He said he heard a sound and woke up to find his wife shot in the chest and the house's back door open, according to a recording of his 911 call. The shooter left an empty shotgun shell behind, the husband said.

Authorities have not named the woman. but the shooting took place at the home of Jan Pigman-Kruse, 40; a death notice for her ran in the local paper Thursday.

Her body was taken to the Ramsey County medical examiner's office for an autopsy.

Kruse's husband and daughter were in the home at the time of the shooting, but neither was hurt, according to the 911 call.

Nobles County Sheriff Kent Wilkening said investigators spoke to the husband, Christopher Kruse, on Wednesday. There was no criminal history tied to the residents of the Kruse house, he said.

"We're still trying to sift through things and trying to figure out what happened," said Wilkening. "We're talking to anybody and everybody."

Neighbor Rita Slocum said the family has two children, but the older boy is in college and living elsewhere this summer. "They were a nice couple," she said. "They have beautiful children."

Authorities told neighbors that they were not in any danger.

"You just don't think it happens in this little town," she said, "especially next door to you."

Matt McKinney • 612-217-1747