The shooting deaths of a man, his ex-wife and her teenage daughter in the northwestern Wisconsin city of Chetek are being treated as double murder-suicide, authorities said Monday.
John Hengst, 55, carried out the act Friday night at the home where all three were living at the time, said Barron County Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald.
His former wife, 55-year-old Brenda Turner, suffered blows to her face, neck, torso and rib fractures before she was fatally shot downstairs, Fitzgerald said autopsy results revealed.
Natalie Turner, Brenda's 17-year-old daughter, called 911 seeking help. She was found in her bedroom dead from a gunshot, Fitzgerald said.
Hengst shot himself and was found downstairs in the home in the 600 block of 26th Street in Chetek, roughly 50 miles east of the state's border with Minnesota, the sheriff added. A gun was recovered at the scene, he said.
"While we are still putting this case together, it appears that some sort of altercation occurred in the upstairs bedroom and then continued downstairs, where Brenda was found deceased," Fitzgerald said.
Court records show that Hengst and Brenda Turner were divorced 14 months ago, and Hengst had been Natalie Turner's stepfather, the sheriff said. He added that he was unaware of any restraining orders having been filed in connection with the divorced couple.
Paul Walsh • 612-673-4482
