Murder/suicide in Towner County: Victims had local ties to area

A small, rural community is reeling following an apparent murder-suicide in Towner County.

On Monday, Aug. 29, deputies from the Towner County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of four unresponsive individuals in a wheat field southwest of Cando, N.D.

According to a press release from Towner County Sheriff Andrew Hillier, the bodies were located on the 6100 Block of 66th Street Northeast.

The scene was secured by the Sheriff’s Office with assistance from the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation, the Benson County Sheriff’s Office and other local law enforcement agencies.

The press release states that, upon investigation, deputies determined the four deceased individuals had sustained gunshot wounds, and that one of the individuals was in possession of a firearm.

According to the press release, evidence from the scene indicates the incident was a murder-suicide. The investigation is still ongoing.

On Wednesday, Aug. 31, the Towner County Sheriff’s Office put out a second press release, which named the individuals involved and the weapon recovered from the scene.

The four deceased individuals were identified as 56-year-old Douglas Dulmage of Leeds, 34-year-old Justin Bracken of Leeds, 64-year-old Richard Bracken of Leeds and 59-year-old Robert Bracken of Cando.

The weapon recovered was a .357 caliber revolver. As of press time, no information was released explaining which individual was found in possession of the firearm when law enforcement first responded.

Of those involved, the Brackens have close family ties to residents in Carrington.

The Aug. 31 press release adds that more information will be made available once forensic medical examinations are completed in the days ahead.