Man called for coroner after killing roommate with shotgun
Share this @internewscast.com

Left: Cody Vernon Kolstad (Rice County Attorney’s Office). right: Brian Daniel Stoeckel (Obituary).

A Minnesota man will spend over two decades behind bars for murdering his roommate in an admitted haze of drug abuse and stress.

On March 28, Cody Vernon Kolstad, age 35, admitted to second-degree murder in connection to the May 2022 killing of 41-year-old Brian Daniel Stoeckel. This update was shared in a press release from the Rice County Attorney’s Office.

On Friday, Judge Karie M. Anderson of the 3rd Judicial District Court sentenced Kolstad to 25 years behind bars. He received credit for nearly three years already served in pretrial custody.

During an allocution, Kolstad relayed the grim events of the fatal night.

“[Brian] was saying one of us had to die before midnight, so I shot him,” the defendant stated, clarifying that he was under the influence of drugs when he grabbed a shotgun, aimed at the victim, and pulled the trigger.

Love true crime? Sign up for our newsletter, The Law&Crime Docket, to get the latest real-life crime stories delivered right to your inbox.

The judge offered a light touch when reproving the convicted killer, urging him to take classes during his years in lockup and using the rhetorical concept of apostrophe to appeal to Kolstad’s better angels.

“While you are taking responsibility, you can never make this family whole,” Anderson said. “You owe a duty to Brian to do better so that you will never be that same guy that committed murder. The expectation is to make better choices … show Brian you can do better.”

Also in attendance were Stoeckel’s friends and family. During an impact statement, the admonition came down a bit harsher.

“They say the brightest stars burn out the quickest,” Stoeckel’s sister said through tears, addressing the defendant directly. “Cody, you took our star. He didn’t burn out; you made that fire go out.”

The deceased man’s obituary remembers him fondly:

He leaves a huge hole in the hearts of his family and friends who were always entertained by his stories and interesting sense of humor. He truly brought the life to the party. No matter the circumstance, you’d always leave with a story of something funny or crazy Brian did or said when you were with him.

In line with Kolstad’s explanation, law enforcement arrived at the house on 2nd Street Southeast in Morristown — a tiny town some 60 miles south of Minneapolis — just after midnight on May 21, 2022.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like

Lawsuit: Day Care Employee Allegedly Caused 3-Year-Old’s Suffocation, Leaving Child Unattended for Hours Before Mother’s Arrival

A Missouri mother is taking legal action against a local daycare following…

Pair Detained Following Early Morning Shooting Incident at David’s BBQ

Staff report A domestic battery incident at David’s BBQ on NE 23rd…

Diddy Testifies in Court: Wishing Him Luck Under Cross-Examination

Will Sean “Diddy” Combs be compelled to testify following the intense revelations…

Man Fatally Stabbed Acquaintance During Dispute Over Woman

Kyle Cooper (Rock Falls Police Department). An Illinois man will spend the…

Police: Mother Starved 4-Year-Old Child with Special Needs to Death

Inset: Jessica M. Burke (Bay County Sheriff’s Office). Background: Bay County Law…

Gainesville Resident Receives Life Sentence for First-Degree Murder and Related Charges in Failed Drug Transaction

Staff report GAINESVILLE, Fla. – At the age of 37, William Walter…

Haitian Orphanage Founder Sentenced to 210 Years for Child Abuse

Michael Geilenfeld in 2024 (U.S. Embassy in Haiti) A Colorado man has…

Teen Duo Stages Fake Kidnapping, Rides Through Village Pleading for Aid

Two 19-year-old men have been charged with filing a false report after…

Update on New Orleans Jailbreak: 7 People Facing Charges, 5 Inmates Recaptured, 5 Still at Large

Seven people have been arrested, and five inmates remain at large after…

Chief Justice Roberts Approves Trump’s Petition to Keep Details About DOGE Hidden

Left: At a campaign event in Salem, Virginia, on November 2, 2024,…

Urgent Alert: Alabama Man Missing and Possibly Endangered

A critical missing person alert has been issued for an Alabama man.…

Murder Suspect Embarks on Crime Spree Across Two States: Police Report

Background: Mike Thomas arrested by Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office deputies (Baldwin County…