Dassel Man Sentenced to 30 Years for Fatally Shooting Wife in Front of Children

Jul 31

A Meeker County man who admitted to fatally shooting his wife in the presence of their two children has been sentenced to more than 30 years in prison.

Bryan William Demarais, 36, pleaded guilty earlier this month to second-degree murder and two counts of child endangerment for the December 28, 2023 killing of his wife inside their rural Dassel home.

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He was sentenced Tuesday to 367 months in prison, or just over 30 years, with credit for 579 days served.

According to court records, Demarais called 911 just after 10 a.m. that day and told dispatchers, “I would like to report a murder,” and “I just finished.” He admitted he had shot his wife multiple times with a .22-caliber rifle and said their two children were inside the house but hadn’t witnessed the shooting.

Responding deputies found Demarais walking out of the home. He told them he was not injured and that his wife was dead inside. Deputies entered and found the woman on the living room floor with multiple gunshot wounds to the head and back. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

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The couple’s children—an 11-year-old boy and 8-year-old girl—were located in a bedroom and helped out through a window by deputies. Both later told forensic interviewers they heard a loud argument that morning, followed by multiple gunshots, and saw their mother fall to the floor. One of the children said Demarais told them to close the bedroom door and not to call 911, saying he would handle it himself.

Demarais later told investigators that he and his wife had argued about finances and infidelity. After going to work, he returned home less than 30 minutes later, still upset, and shot her inside the home while the children were in the next room.

As part of the plea agreement, prosecutors withdrew their request for an aggravated sentence based on the crime occurring in front of the children. Demarais was sentenced to 367 months for murder, 33 months for one count of child endangerment, and 28 months for the other. All sentences will be served at the same time, meaning his total prison term is 30 years and 7 months.

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