GAYLORD — A Sibley County Jury found Travis Joel Bauer of Winthrop guilty of second-degree murder with intent and not guilty of 1st-degree pre-meditated murder Friday.

Pending sentencing, Bauer’s bail, earlier set at $3 million without conditions, $150,000 with conditions, was revoked by the Court and he was remanded into custody, according to a Sibley County Attorney’s Office news release.

A pre-sentence investigation was ordered. Sentencing will be set at a later date, about 60 days out, read the release.

“The jury made a decision that Travis Bauer killed Dennis Weitzenkamp. We believe the evidence in this case only pointed to one person. We are pleased with the verdict, and we look forward to the sentencing hearing where we will argue for accountability in taking the life of another,” said Sibley County Attorney Don Lannoye.

Bauer, 48, was convicted in the Sept. 2022 shooting death of Weitzenkamp, 80. Weitzenkamp was found with a fatal gunshot wound in the back of his head. Bauer worked for Weitzenkamp on his farm.

Bauer was originally only charged with second-degree murder. He was indicted with one count of first-degree premeditated murder in April 2023.

The Sibley County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call from Bauer that Weitzenkamp was unresponsive at a rural Winthrop farm at 2:35 p.m. Sept. 20, 2022. Bauer told dispatch he met Weitzenkamp on the road 10-15 minutes earlier as he was driving to Winthrop on CR 57.

Winthrop Police Chief Logan Anderson arrived on the scene first and saw Weitzenkamp slumped over a chair in a machine shed. A large pool of blood appeared to be below his head. A wound in the back of his head was bleeding.

In an interview with law enforcement later that day, Bauer said he went to the farm at about 1:30 p.m., noticed he needed anti-freeze and other items and drove to Winthrop to go to the NAPA vehicle parts store, returned to the farm, saw Weitzenkamp, yelled to him several times, returned to his vehicle and called 911.

Cell phone data showed Bauer’s statement to law enforcement was not accurate, that he took a different route to Winthrop earlier in the day. Surveillance video showed he was westbound on State Highway 19, not CR 57, where he saw Weitzenkamp traveling.

An autopsy performed on Weitzenkamp revealed he was shot in the back of the head with a small-caliber bullet. Bauer later admitted to law enforcement that he lied in earlier interviews with them.

Law enforcement collected Bauer’s clothing after his first interview. Bauer said the last time he fired a gun was three weeks earlier. His clothing was sent to a lab to be examined for gun shot residue (GSR).

The lab confirmed GSR on Bauer’s cap and pants and elements of GSR were found on his shirt and belt. GSR confirmation is generally not expected to be found on clothing that was washed, exposed to elements or subject to physical activity.

Examining Bauer’s finances, law enforcement discovered he had significant debt and was behind on bills. About an hour prior to Weizenkamp being found dead, Bauer received multiple phone calls informing him he was late on his home payments and if payments were not made, he could lose the home.

Trust documents were found indicating Bauer would receive a significant financial benefit from Weitzenkamp’s death.