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Jan Kruse was tragically shot and killed in her sleep in Brewster, Minnesota, in August 2015. Her husband, Chris Kruse, called 911, and authorities found two shotgun casings in the bedroom. Despite signs of premeditation with a deliberate chest shot, there were no signs of forced entry or struggle, complicating the investigation.
The Dateline: Secrets Uncovered episode Far From Spider Lake will air on July 10, 2024, at 8 p.m. EST on Oxygen, detailing the case surrounding Jan Kruse's murder. The official synopsis reads,
"A 40-year-old Minnesota woman is shot to death in her bed while her husband and teenage daughter are home, leaving investigators to wonder who would want her dead."
Who was Jan Kruse? Details explored
Janette Krista Pigman-Kruse was born on September 24, 1974, to parents Terry and Mary Jean (Powers) Pigman in Worthington. Jan graduated from Worthington Senior High in 1993 and went on to secure an associate degree from Worthington Community College.
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She worked as an employee at the Ridley Block Operations and married Chris on October 7, 1995. The couple settled down in Brewster, a small town close to the Iowa border and about three hours southwest of Minneapolis. According to Mankato Free Press, Chris was a carpenter who owned a shop in town.
Jan spent time with her children, Isaac and Bailey, watching sports or playing with her dogs, Hog, Gator, and Zippy. The couple were married for 20 years.
Jan Kruse enjoyed quilting, going on trips to central and northern Minnesota, and gardening besides spending time with friends and family. Jan and Chris spent many of their vacations at the Spider Lake Resort in Marcell Minnesota. Together, they wished to own the property someday.
What happened to Jan Kruse?
Episode 6 of Dateline: Secrets Uncovered's season 13 showcases Jan Kruse's murder as she was allegedly found shot to death in her bed on August 19, 2015. Her husband, Chris Kruse, dialed 911 at 2:39 a.m. local time after he heard gunshots around 2:30 a.m. local time and woke up to find Jan shot in the chest, according to The Globe.
The authorities found two 12 gauge shotgun shells at the crime scene, according to the US Sun. The shooting took place in Jan's Brewster home in Nobles County while her husband, Chris, and her daughter, Bailey Kruse, were in the house asleep.
During the 911 call, Chris mentioned that the house's back door had allegedly been wide open, indicating a break-in. The authorities found broken windows in the basement apart from the shell casings on the bedroom floor. However, no footprints were found inside or outside the house that could justify a home intrusion.
There were no signs of forced entry in the house and the autopsy reports came back with no signs of struggle on Jan's part. This indicated that she was the target of a premeditated murder. As the investigations unfolded, the authorities narrowed down their suspicion on Chris Kruse but he was found not guilty of Jan Kruse's murder at his trial in 2020.
Read more: Dateline: Secrets Uncovered - Was Jan Kruse's murder solved?
Watch all the details as the Dateline episode airs on Oxygen on Wednesday.
