Gene Bartnes and 3-Year-Old Koltyn Suicide Death Obituary: Father And Son Has Died In A Murder-Suicide

The quiet stretch of Holmesville Township woke up to a tragedy no one saw coming. Gene Bartnes and his 3-year-old son, Koltyn, were found dead inside a rural home Monday afternoon, leaving a tight-knit community shaken and searching for answers.

Authorities say deputies were called just after 12:30 p.m. on March 30, after a concerned man went looking for his brother, who had failed to show up for work. What he found instead was devastating. Inside the residence, Bartnes was discovered with what investigators believe was a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Not far from him, young Koltyn was also found dead, believed to have suffered a gunshot wound.

Law enforcement moved quickly to secure the scene. The area, described as remote and quiet, gave no immediate signs of disturbance from the outside. Officials later confirmed there was no ongoing threat to the public, but the weight of what happened inside that home lingered heavily over the investigation.

Koltyn’s mother, Kristi Frazier, identified both victims and shared her belief that the deaths were the result of a murder-suicide. According to her, Bartnes left behind a note. That detail has only deepened the emotional toll, raising painful questions about what led up to that moment.
Investigators from the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension have stepped in to assist, carefully piecing together the timeline. While official conclusions are still pending, early indications point to a deeply personal and tragic situation that unfolded behind closed doors.

In Detroit Lakes and the surrounding areas, the news spread quickly. Friends, neighbors, and family members have been left stunned. For many, the loss of a young child has been especially hard to process. Koltyn’s age alone has become the most heartbreaking detail, a reminder of a life barely begun.

Community members are now leaning on each other for support. Conversations are quieter. Daily routines feel heavier. What happened in that rural home has left a mark, one that won’t fade easily as the investigation continues and the community begins the slow process of healing.