BEMIDJI, Minn. (trfnews.i234.me) – In August 2023, 29-year-old Jared William Eason was found deceased in his Bemidji residence, with the Midwest Medical Examiner’s office attributing the cause to homicidal violence resulting from blunt force injuries.
Subsequent investigations led to the arrest of his brothers, Joseph Robert Eason and Daniel James Eason. Joseph faced charges of manslaughter and aiding an offender as an accomplice after the fact, while Daniel was charged with second-degree murder, manslaughter, and aiding an offender as an accomplice after the fact.
On January 7, 2025, Minnesota court records indicate that Daniel Eason was convicted of second-degree murder; the manslaughter and aiding an offender charges were dismissed. He received a prison sentence of 165 months, with credit for 419 days already served. Joseph Eason’s manslaughter charge was dismissed; he was convicted of aiding an offender and sentenced to 69 months in prison, with credit for 476 days served.
The case began on August 12, 2023, when Bemidji Police conducted a welfare check at a residence on the 1200 block of Minnesota Avenue NW, discovering Jared Eason deceased. Evidence collected by Bemidji Police and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension included blood samples and bloody clothing from multiple rooms. DNA analysis identified the presence of Joseph, Jared, and Daniel Eason, with no indications of other individuals being present during the incident.
During police interviews, Joseph Eason reported finding his brother unresponsive upon returning home and contacting emergency services. He stated that on August 10, he and Jared had been watching a Vikings game, consuming alcohol and controlled substances, leading to a blackout. Joseph claimed no recollection of subsequent events and mentioned waking up in a different Bemidji residence on August 11, where he sought hospital treatment for injuries.
Daniel Eason informed officers that four unidentified individuals had entered the house on August 10, engaging in a physical altercation with Jared and Joseph. He admitted to not reporting the assault until contacted by law enforcement on August 12. Investigators found no evidence supporting Daniel’s account of unknown assailants, concluding that only the three brothers were present during the incident.
I’m Chris Harper, reporting for trfnews.i234.me