Tragedy and mystery surround the grisly discovery of four bodies in a wheat field in North Dakota, which police have described as a “murder-suicide.”
On August 29, Towner County Sheriff’s Office (TCSO) deputies were called out to a farm just outside Cando, North Dakota, on a report that four people had been found unresponsive. Police arrived to find four men who had died from apparent gunshot wounds, with a .357-caliber revolver near one of the bodies.
“Evidence from the scene indicates that this incident was a murder-suicide and there is no known threat to the public,” Sheriff Andrew Hillier said in a statement on Tuesday.
On Wednesday, the TCSO released the names of the deceased. Douglas Dulmage, 56, of Leeds, was the owner of the property and one of the victims. He was found in his combine harvester, his friend Pat Traynor told ABC affiliate WDAY.
“He was a pillar of the community; it’s a total devastating loss,” Traynor told the outlet. “He epitomized what it was like to be in the country, in terms of friendliness, kindness, empathy, people helping each other.”
Dulmage lived in the nearby town of Leeds with his wife and two daughters, where he was also a volunteer firefighter and member of the North Dakota Farm Bureau (NDFB), WDAY reported.
“It is hard to understand why something like this would happen in a rural farming community,” NDFB President Daryl Lies said in a statement to media. “When evil presents itself, it can be devastating but we must remember there is more good than evil in our world. Doug’s dedication to agriculture and love for his family will forever be remembered.”
The other three victims all appear to be related: Justin Bracken, 34; Richard Bracken, 64; and Robert Bracken, 59. They all worked for Dulmage and were helping to harvest the wheat when the tragedy occurred.
Police have not provided details as to who fired the weapon.
“More information will be released once the forensic medical examinations are completed in the coming days,” Hillier said in a statement on Wednesday announcing the names of the deceased.
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is a free hotline for individuals in crisis or distress or for those looking to help someone else. It is available 24/7 at 1-800-273-8255.