An elderly couple found shot to death early Friday in their rural Mahnomen County, Minn., home appear to have been random victims.
Mahnomen County Sheriff Doug Krier said there is no known connection between the victims and a suspect who was in custody.
Authorities identified the victims as Francis Lundon, 72, and Ethyl Lundon, 71. They were found in their home in central Mahnomen County within the boundaries of the White Earth Indian Reservation.
The identity of a suspect, who is being held in the Benton County Jail in Foley, had not been released as of Saturday afternoon.
A Benton County dispatcher declined to name the individual, but said the person was being held on charges of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and possession of a stolen vehicle.
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A Mahnomen County dispatcher said Saturday that the suspect's name was not being released pending an investigation. He said that information would be released by Krier, but that Krier was not available Saturday.
No other suspects are being sought, Krier said Friday.
The investigation began about 2:30 a.m. when the nearby Morrison County Sheriff's Office received information about a possible double homicide suspect in the Pierz area.
A Morrison County deputy stopped the suspect, who was on Highway 25 just inside Benton County, said Morrison County Sheriff Michel Wetzel. The pickup was registered to a Mahnomen County resident.
Mahnomen County deputies and White Earth tribal officers went to the home located eight miles east and 4 1/2 miles south of Mahnomen on County Road 3 to check on the residents' welfare.
"When they got there, they discovered two bodies in the house, dead from an apparent gunshot wound," Krier said.
The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension's mobile crime lab was on the scene, and agents are helping Mahnomen County in the homicide investigation.
In Minnesota, a criminal suspect can be held up to 36 hours after an arrest, excluding weekends, before being formally charged. The suspect, who is expected to be transferred to Mahnomen County, could make a court appearance by noon Monday.
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Readers can reach Forum reporter Patrick Springer at (701) 241-5522
