GAYLORD — A Sibley County grand jury has indicted Joel Bauer, 46, of Winthrop, with First Degree Murder in connection with the death of Dennis Weitzenkamp on September 20, 2022.

Bauer had been charged with Second Degree Murder on March 13, 2023. According to state law, second degree murder is the highest charge a county attorney can file without going to a grand jury for a first-degree indictment.

Bauer was arrested on the indictment on Thursday. He is expected to have a bail hearing on April 21, 2023 at 11 a.m.

Bauer was arrested March 10 for the murder of Weitzenkamp, which occurred Sept. 20, 2022 in Transit Township.

According to court documents, the Sibley County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call from Bauer that Weitzenkamp was unresponsive at his farm at 54100 266th Street, Winthrop at 2:35 p.m. on Sept. 20, 2022. Bauer told dispatch that he just 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 right below Weitzenkamp’s head and there was a wound in the back of his head.

Weitzenkamp appeared to have been about to shuck an ear of corn just before being shot.

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

Cell phone data showed that Bauer’s statement to law enforcement was not accurate, that he took a different route to Winthrop earlier in the day.

9ASurveillance video confirmed he was traveling west on TH 19, not on on CR 57 where he said he saw Weitzenkamp traveling and he was not where he said was at the time of day he told law enforcement.

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.

Lab tests confirmed gun shot residue was on Bauer’s cap and pants and elements of residue were found on his shirt and belt.

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

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