Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN (trfnews.i234.me)—On September 20, 2022, Travis Bauer contacted emergency services to report finding 79-year-old farmer Dennis Weitzenkamp unresponsive in a machine shed at a farm on 266th Street near Winthrop, Minnesota. Law enforcement arrived to find Weitzenkamp deceased with a gunshot wound to the back of his head. Evidence indicated he had been preparing to shuck corn prior to the incident.
Bauer initially stated he last saw Weitzenkamp earlier that afternoon while passing him on the road. However, cell phone location data and surveillance footage placed both men at the farm during the time of the shooting. Additionally, gunshot residue was found on Bauer’s clothing, despite his claim of not having fired a weapon in weeks. Financial records showed Bauer faced significant debt and stood to gain financially from Weitzenkamp’s death through a trust.
The investigation found no evidence of theft, burglary, or other individuals present at the scene. Bauer later admitted to providing false information about his whereabouts, stating he wanted to “keep his story straight.”
In October 2024, Bauer was acquitted of first-degree premeditated murder but found guilty of second-degree intentional murder. On January 8, 2025, he was sentenced to 30.5 years in prison, with a minimum of two-thirds to be served in custody and the remainder on supervised release. He received credit for 117 days already served and was ordered to pay $45,115.22 in restitution and fines.
I’m Chris Harper, reporting for trfnews.i234.me