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Newly released text messages revealed a couple’s marital problems before the man stabbed his wife and daughter at their Minnesota daycare in a murder-suicide, and it was also revealed that he stabbed his mother prior to his death.
After reports of the stabbings were released, Nathan Brown was identified as the suspect. His wife, Kristen Brown, and his daughter, Evie, were the victims of the daycare stabbings.
Nathan, 41, was said to have stabbed Kristen, 41, and Evie, 7, with a screwdriver. The incident was reported when a parent witnessed the stabbings as he dropped his children off at the daycare on the morning of Wednesday, August 12, according to the Minnesota Star Tribune.
Shortly before the stabbings, Kristen texted a friend around 8:45 a.m. to say that things “were crazy” with her marriage, according to the Daily Mail. She added that she planned to shut down her family’s daycare business, Brown Bear Childcare, on August 27.
The daycare was operated out of the Browns’ home, which Nathan owned. Kristen was reportedly planning to leave her husband at the time she was killed.
Hopkins Police Chief Brent Johnson said that just 20 minutes after she sent the text to her friend, a parent arrived at the daycare and witnessed Nathan stabbing his wife and child.
The witness told authorities that he heard children screaming, so he walked in the entrance of the daycare and found Nathan stabbing Kristen and Evie. He then quickly grabbed his own children and two others before he called 911.
Nathan died by suicide before police arrived at the daycare. Upon their arrival, police found him on the upper floor of the house.
Six other children were at the daycare at the time of the incident. They were removed and safely reunited with their families, according to the Minnesota Star Tribune.
Three hours after the murder-suicide, a relative called police to report that Nathan had fatally stabbed his mother, Alice Brown, at her home in Burnsville by Nathan, per the outlet. It’s believed that Nathan was living with Alice, 78, at the time. However, it’s not known exactly when Nathan killed Alice.
Johnson further discussed the incident during a press conference, where he said the incident was “an extremely tragic event for Hopkins and for any community.”
“The victims are all valued members of the Hopkins community,” Johnson continued. “Any event involving the loss of life is a difficult process, but when children are involved, it’s especially devastating.”
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