Deer Creek child dies from accidental gunshot on Dec. 29

Bodi Ray Engebretson, 19, of Vergas made his first court appearance in Otter Tail County District Court on Monday, Dec. 30 regarding an incident in which a dog was shot.

Engebretson is charged with felony mistreatment of an animal.

According to the complaint, a sergeant from the Otter Tail County Sheriff’s office responded to a call from a family member of the dog’s owners on East Mill Street in Vergas on Monday, July 1.

Court documents state the family member reported that something had happened to the dog the night prior.

Upon the officer’s arrival, the owners brought the sergeant to their back deck where they said they believed the dog had been shot the prior evening. According to court records, the owners stated the dog had been put outside around 11 p.m. and approximately 15 minutes later they heard their 3-year-old, female labradoodle squealing and whining. When they went to check on the dog, she was found dead on the deck.

The owner reported a small hole, likely from a projectile, which was described as the size of a .22 shell behind the dog’s front shoulder. Nobody at the residence reported hearing any gun shots at the time. 

The dog had been confined by a wooden spindle deck, a railing, shrubbery and trees, leading the officer to postulate someone would have to go into the backyard to be able to shoot the animal.

A tip was received later that day from a family member who knew of the incident and was upset that Engebretson killed the neighbor’s dog, and thought he should take accountability for it.

The sergeant spoke with Engebretson, who admitted to shooting the dog with an air rifle with .177 caliber pellets. He denied shooting the doodle on the neighbor’s property, stating it was on his family’s property when he retrieved the gun and shot the dog.

If convicted of the felony charge, Engebretson could face two years in jail and a $5,000 fine. His next court appearance is scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 7, in Otter Tail County District Court.

Deer Creek child dies from gunshot

A child was killed by an accidental self-inflicted gunshot in Otter Tail County on Sunday, Dec. 29, according to a press release from the Otter Tail County Sheriff’s Office.

First responders were notified of the incident in Oak Valley Township at approximately 5:40 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 29. The child was then transported to Astera Health in Wadena.

The death was officially announced the morning of Monday. Dec. 30. by the Sheriff’s Office. 

A GoFundMe fundraiser titled, “Help Celebrate Rudy’s Bright Young Life” was  organized by Megan Agnew on Monday morning on behalf of Kaitlin Sweere.

As of 3 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 2, the fundraising goal of $15,000 had nearly been met. More than $13,000 has been raised by 193 donations. totaling $9,480, exceeding the fundraising site’s stated goal to raise $8,000, according to the GoFundMe page. For more information and to donate to the cause visit: gofund.me/463049cb/

According to the post, a funeral service celebrating the life of Rudy Sweere, son of Josh and Kaitlin Sweere of Wadena, was held at 4 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 4, at the Family Life Church in Verndale with Pastor Amos Self presiding. Visitation was held at the church on Saturday 90 minutes prior to the service. A private burial will be held at a later date in Green Lawn Cemetery in Verndale.

The Otter Tail County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the New York Mills Police Department, Deer Creek Fire and Rescue and Wadena Ambulance. The incident remains under investigation.