Minnesota Man Admits to Fatally Shooting Wife During Argument Over Sleep, Medication

I can’t stop thinking about what those two young kids must’ve heard that night.

December 28, 2023 — just another cold evening in Dassel, Minnesota — turned into something no child should ever have to live through. Inside a quiet suburban home, while their children were in the bedroom, Bryan Demarais shot and killed his wife. Not in a sudden moment of self-defense. Not in the middle of a break-in. But after a verbal argument, in the home they shared.

What hits hard is that the children heard it all. Multiple gunshots. Their mother falling. Then silence. Then more shots.

Demarais didn’t run. He didn’t try to hide. He called 911 himself and surrendered without a fight. Later, in court, he said he hadn’t been taking his medication and hadn’t slept. And that he didn’t remember doing it. But that’s not how trauma works. The kids will remember. The community will remember.

This wasn’t just another “domestic dispute.” It was a moment of irreversible destruction inside a family home — the kind you’d think is safe.

How do we make sense of something like this? And more importantly — how do we prevent the next one?

Let’s talk about what really happened, what the legal system is doing, and what this case says about mental health, gun access, and protecting children inside their own homes.

The Night That Shattered a Family: What Happened Inside the Dassel Home

If you’ve ever thought something like this can’t happen in a small Minnesota town, this case might change your mind.

According to a report from CBS News Minnesota, it was around 1 a.m. when Bryan Demarais called 911. He had just shot his wife multiple times inside their Dassel home, while their two kids — just 8 and 11 — were awake in the bedroom. They heard the shots. They saw their mother fall. They were right there.

The 911 call wasn’t made by a neighbor or a passerby. Bryan made the call himself. He waited for officers. He cooperated. But none of that undoes what happened.

When police arrived, they found the kids unharmed but frozen in shock. Officers had to help them climb out through the bedroom window to get them to safety. Physically, they were okay. But emotionally? That’s a wound that doesn’t heal easy — not for a child.

It wasn’t a random attack. It wasn’t an accident. It was a slow buildup, an argument, and then a moment that changed everything.

Who Is Bryan Demarais? Father, Husband, and Now Convicted Killer

What do you make of a man who says, “I saw her as a shadow, not as a person”?

That’s what Bryan told investigators after the shooting, according to Post Bulletin. He didn’t say he was angry. He didn’t say it was self-defense. Instead, he talked about being sleep-deprived, off his medication, and disconnected from reality.

It’s not easy to understand. He was a father. Married. Living in a quiet neighborhood. From the outside, it looked like an ordinary life. But on the inside, something was unraveling — and no one stopped it before it turned deadly.

In court, Bryan didn’t deny what happened. He entered what’s called a Norgaard plea — a specific kind of guilty plea used when a person claims they can’t remember committing the crime, but admits the evidence is enough for a conviction.

So he’s not saying he didn’t do it. He’s saying he doesn’t remember doing it.

But here’s the hard part: does that change the pain? For the kids? For the family? For the community?

The Norgaard Plea: What It Really Means

Let’s break this down — because legal terms like “Norgaard plea” can confuse the hell out of most people.

This plea isn’t about avoiding guilt. It’s a legal way of saying: “I can’t recall doing it, but I believe there’s enough evidence to convict me.” It comes from a Minnesota Supreme Court case, and it’s used in situations where memory loss plays a role — often due to things like mental illness, intoxication, or trauma.

In Bryan’s case, he claimed he wasn’t sleeping and had stopped taking his prescribed medication. He described being in a fog, not seeing clearly, and feeling detached from reality.

But here’s the thing: forgetting doesn’t erase responsibility. You and I both know — if you pull a trigger and end a life, memory loss doesn’t undo the outcome.

The court accepted the plea. And as part of it, Bryan could face over 25 years in prison. But this case isn’t just about time served — it’s about a home torn apart, and the cracks that led to it.

And even when guns aren’t fired, the threat they represent changes everything — like in Jacksonville, where police arrested a man after multiple alleged burglary attempts targeting neighborhood homes.

Children in the Crossfire: What Happened to the Kids That Night

I keep coming back to the kids. Because for all the legal terms and court dates, it’s those two young lives that took the biggest hit.

Imagine being 11 years old, hearing your parents argue, and then hearing the sound of gunshots. Imagine watching your mother collapse right in front of you, then having your bedroom door shut while more shots ring out behind it.

That’s what these kids went through.

They didn’t just lose a parent that night — they lost both. One gone forever. The other, behind bars for decades. And they were the only ones there to witness the whole thing unfold.

Police said the children were not physically harmed. But let’s be honest — emotional scars like this can last a lifetime. Whether they get counseling, whether they get a safe place to grow up — those are the next battles.

And what makes this even harder to accept? There were signs. Arguments. Mental health issues. Medication problems. But no one intervened in time.

That’s what makes this more than a “family tragedy.” This is a child protection failure, too.

Sadly, this isn’t the only time kids have been caught in violent home situations. In Philadelphia, a man was shot outside his home in what police suspect was a targeted act — while family members were reportedly inside.

Mental Health, Sleep Deprivation, and Medication Non-Compliance: A Deadly Mix?

Let’s talk about what no one likes to admit out loud: mental health struggles inside the home can be just as dangerous as any weapon.

Bryan said he wasn’t taking his meds. He said he hadn’t slept. He said the stress of marital problems pushed him over the edge. And while that doesn’t excuse anything — it does raise a very real question:

How many families out there are one sleepless night away from a disaster like this?

According to the reports, severe sleep deprivation can affect impulse control, increase aggression, and impair judgment. When you mix that with skipped medication and emotional breakdowns, you’ve got a recipe for something tragic.

This wasn’t just about marriage problems. It was about untreated instability — and no safety net around it.

So here’s the takeaway for you: if someone in your home is spiraling — whether it’s anger, mental illness, substance abuse, or erratic behavior — say something. Step in. Call someone. Don’t wait until it’s too late.

Because this family waited. And now, two kids are growing up with nightmares — and no parents at home.

Have you ever seen signs like this in someone’s behavior but didn’t know what to do? I’d really like to hear your thoughts in the comments.

Gun Access in Minnesota Homes: Could This Have Been Prevented?

You and I both know — owning a gun comes with massive responsibility. And when it’s inside a home with children, or a partner struggling with their mental health, that responsibility only grows.

Bryan used a .22 caliber firearm to kill his wife. We don’t know yet how it was stored, but let’s ask the real question: should he have had access to it at all?

Minnesota has gun safety laws, but they’re not the strictest. There’s no mandatory safe storage law. There’s no universal background check requirement for private sales. And unless someone is legally declared a danger, mental health struggles don’t always trigger restrictions.

That gap can cost lives.

This wasn’t a case of a stranger breaking in. The weapon didn’t come from outside. It was already inside the home — and it turned deadly in a matter of seconds.

Maybe it’s time we stop treating guns like just another household item. Because if someone in the home is emotionally unstable, that gun isn’t protection — it’s a loaded risk.

I recently came across a discussion in a crime-focused WhatsApp channel where cases like this are shared in real time — updates, prevention tips, and real reactions from people who’ve lived through similar situations. It’s eye-opening how often access and instability collide.

The Legal Road Ahead: What Sentencing Could Look Like

Now that Bryan’s guilty plea is on record, what comes next?

According to court filings, his attorneys plan to ask for 25.5 years in prison. That’s based on sentencing guidelines for second-degree murder in Minnesota, with additional weight from the two child endangerment charges. Prosecutors may agree, or they could push for a longer sentence depending on the judge’s review of the case.

Let’s be honest, though — this isn’t just about numbers. Whether it’s 25 years, 30, or life… the impact on his children and the wider community is already permanent.

One important thing to know: in Minnesota, most second-degree murder convictions come with a requirement to serve two-thirds of the sentence before eligibility for supervised release (parole). That means Bryan may not serve every day of the sentence — but he also won’t be walking out anytime soon.

If you’re wondering whether memory loss could reduce his sentence — legally, it won’t. The Norgaard plea doesn’t carry leniency. It’s simply a way to move forward in court when memory is claimed to be impaired.

Sentencing is scheduled for July 29, 2025, and victims’ family members may speak in court. That day will likely bring closure for some — and reopen wounds for others.

Emotional breakdowns don’t always lead to murder — sometimes they show up in risky, escalating behaviors. Just like in McAllen, Texas where police are searching for a young suspect in an armed home robbery.

What We Can Learn From This Tragedy?

There’s no way to undo what happened in Dassel. But if we don’t walk away with lessons, we’re just waiting for the next headline.

Here’s what I hope you take from this:

• Mental health matters — but silence kills. If someone’s not taking meds or losing control emotionally, speak up. Early.
• Guns inside homes aren’t neutral. Lock them up. Ask yourself if it’s safe to keep one where tensions are high.
• Kids always notice. Even if they don’t speak up, they’re absorbing every fight, every scream, every silence.
• Don’t wait for it to escalate. Emotional abuse often turns physical. Physical abuse can turn fatal.

This wasn’t just a private tragedy. It was preventable. And that’s what stings the most.

So the question now is — what will you do differently to protect your home, your family, or someone else’s?

If stories like this make you think more about home safety, real-time crime reports, or how to protect your space — you’ll find more practical coverage and analysis at Build Like New.

Disclaimer: This article discusses domestic violence and child trauma, which may be distressing for some readers. The details are based on publicly available information and court records. Reader discretion is advised.