Blue Earth County (trfnews.i234.me) -On January 9, 2025, at approximately 7:18 p.m., the Blue Earth County Sheriff’s Office responded to a 911 call reporting an unresponsive female at a residence on 515th Avenue, north of Highway 60, in rural Lake Crystal. First responders confirmed the death of the individual, identified as 57-year-old Kristi Joy Gardner. The Ramsey County Medical Examiner’s Office conducted an autopsy, determining the cause of death to be multiple gunshot wounds, classifying the manner of death as homicide.
Investigators identified 64-year-old Gary Mark Rodewald of New Ulm, a former partner of Gardner, as a person of interest. Law enforcement located Rodewald at his residence in New Ulm. Due to the involvement of a firearm, the Brown, Lyon, Redwood, and Renville County Emergency Response Unit assisted in the operation. At approximately 6 a.m. on January 10, officers found Rodewald unresponsive inside a vehicle in his garage, with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. He was transported to a Minneapolis hospital, where he remained in critical condition in the intensive care unit.
The Blue Earth County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, is leading the ongoing investigation. Authorities have stated there is no ongoing threat to the public but have not released additional details at this time.
I’m Chris Harper, reporting for trfnews.i234.me