DULUTH, Minn. – A family of four was murdered by a mentally ill relative who left a note before killing himself that God would grant his victims “the most peaceful heavenly afterlife possible.” Another relative identified the victims as:
> Sean Christopher Barry, 47, the father.
> Riana Lou Barry, 44, the mother.
> Shiway Elizabeth Barry, 12, their older daughter.
> Sadie Lucille Barry, 9, their younger daughter.
They were slain by 29-year-old Brandon Taylor Cole-Skogstad, the relative said. He was the brother or brother-in-law of one of Barry parents. The precise relationship was not immediately clear. A pet dog was also slain. It was believed that Cole-Skogstad had a gun, but Police Chief Mike Tusken was sparse about details of the investigation.
Barry family. A family member shared this photograph from earlier moment.
Cole-Skogstad. Left farewell note that referred to mental troubles.
Killer’s parting message
Brandon Taylor Cole-Skogstad wrote an online farewell about suffering from mental illness for years. He said wished he could go back and make better choices in life and would have “ignored the hatred thrown at me by peers for so long.” He went on: on: “I have made the absolutely horrid choice in not only taking my life, but the lives of my aunt … uncle … and my two sweet, beyond angelic cousins.” He ended “I cannot fathom how I came to this decision, but I do know this. If there is a God sitting in heaven, I wish so much that he grant my family the most peaceful heavenly afterlife possible. If God can truly forgive me, weather or not I ask for it. Weather or not I feel I am worthy, I only ask to tell them all sorry. I truly hope I can learn to accept feelings of love from those that gave it. I love you all and please know I knew you all loved me. I tried my best to fight it. Good bye.”
What happened
Police in Hermantown, a Duluth suburb, got call on Wednesday morning to check on Brandon Taylor Cole-Skogstad at a location in Hermantown . The caller hung up. Police went to the Hermantown address, but Cole-Skogstad was not there. The police found enough, however, to alert Duluth police to check a house in the Easthill neighborhood. They started a welfare check Thursday morning. Inside, police were aware there had been a major crime. They called a crime scene truck. Investigators went inside. There they found five people and a dog inside. All were dead.