White Bear Lake man jailed after bodies found in home he shared with mother, twin

A White Bear Lake man is jailed for financial exploitation of a vulnerable adult after two bodies were discovered in the home he shared with his elderly mother and twin brother.

Authorities say the bodies were discovered after a neighbor hadn't seen the residents for some time and asked for a welfare check. The bodies "appeared to have been there for an extended period of time," police said.

"It is unclear, at this point, how or when the individuals died," the police said in a news release.

While police did not identify the bodies, neighbors said the home belonged to Evelyn Kuefler, 93, her son Richard Kuefler, 59, and his twin brother. Police say the twin brother was inside the home when police arrived. He was arrested and booked into the Ramsey County jail. It is generally the Star Tribune's policy not to name suspects until they are charged.

White Bear Lake police and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension are investigating.

The home in the 4700 block of Sandra Lane, remains taped off as the investigation continues. Investigators wheeled a body bag out of the home around 2:55 p.m., and then wheeled out a second one about five minutes later. Neighbors said the twin sons moved in after their father died from cancer several years ago. Neighbor Robert Henk, who identified the family, said another neighbor saw police arrest the twin brother, who is dependent on oxygen. Richard was the one Henk often saw mowing the lawn and collecting the mail.

It's unclear when the deaths occurred, but Henk, who lives a few doors down, suspected it could have been several days ago.

"Maybe I should've called the police or 911 at the time, but I didn't — I guess I just never thought about it," Henk said.

Neighbors said Evelyn Kuefler was a homebody who kept to herself. Her husband, Fenwick, who died in 2011, was the outgoing, talkative one.

Neither of the couple's twin sons was married, and they appeared not to have any children. There were few, if any, visitors to the family's home.

Both sons were retired, Henk said. Richard maintained the home and yard, purchased groceries for the family and spoke regularly with Henk, who described Richard as "personable." The other son, who was arrested, seemed to stay secluded in the basement.

"They were good neighbors — the kind you'd like to have next to you because they didn't bother you," Henk said.