Topline: Minnesota’s Norgaard plea allowed him to admit the killing despite claiming amnesia.
Published: August 2, 2025 8:30 am ET
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Bryan Demarais (via Meeker County Jail)
DASSEL, MN — A central Minnesota man who fatally shot his wife while their two children were in the home has been sentenced to more than 30 years in prison, after pleading guilty under a rarely used legal provision that acknowledges guilt without full memory of the crime.
Bryan W. Demarais, 36, admitted in court to killing his wife, Kayla M. Demarais, inside their rural Dassel home on December 28, 2023, during what he described as a heated argument over marital issues, according to the Star Tribune.
He entered what’s known as a Norgaard plea—used when a defendant cannot recall the crime but agrees that the evidence supports a conviction—on second-degree murder and two counts of child endangerment.
The sentencing, delivered Tuesday in Meeker County District Court, comes with a prison term of 30 years and seven months, though with credit for time already served, Demarais is expected to spend roughly 19 years incarcerated before transitioning to supervised release, the Star Tribune reported.
In his plea filing, Demarais claimed that he was severely sleep-deprived and off his prescribed medication at the time of the shooting. He told police he no longer saw his wife “as a person, but as a shadow,” as reported by CBS News.
After shooting her multiple times with a rifle—nine times, according to investigators—he called 911, calmly stating, “I would like to report a murder,” and surrendered without resistance when officers arrived.
The couple’s children, then ages 11 and 8, were in a bedroom during the shooting.
According to court documents cited by CBS News, they heard gunfire and witnessed their mother fall before Demarais closed the door to the room and fired additional shots. While the children were not physically harmed, officers helped them exit the home through a bedroom window.
Emergency responders found Kayla Demarais dead on the living room floor. The crime sent shockwaves through the community west of the Twin Cities, leaving family and friends struggling to process the loss.
“My beautiful sister was taken from this world, leaving 2 young children and a family devastated,” wrote Kayla’s sister, Casey Watts, in an online fundraiser created shortly after the shooting to help with related expenses.
The case involved a Norgaard plea, a legal option in Minnesota for defendants who claim they cannot remember committing a crime but concede that the evidence would likely lead to a conviction. Demarais acknowledged the prosecution’s account of events and accepted responsibility through the plea, resulting in a sentence of over 30 years in prison.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
If you are experiencing domestic abuse, you are not alone. Help is available. Call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233 or text "START" to 88788 to connect with trained advocates 24/7. Support is free, confidential, and available in over 200 languages. You can also visit thehotline.org for more information and resources.
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Minnesota’s Norgaard plea allowed him to admit the killing despite claiming amnesia.
By Jacob Charles
Published: August 2, 2025 8:30 am ET
Bryan Demarais (via Meeker County Jail)
DASSEL, MN — A central Minnesota man who fatally shot his wife while their two children were in the home has been sentenced to more than 30 years in prison, after pleading guilty under a rarely used legal provision that acknowledges guilt without full memory of the crime.
Bryan W. Demarais, 36, admitted in court to killing his wife, Kayla M. Demarais, inside their rural Dassel home on December 28, 2023, during what he described as a heated argument over marital issues, according to the Star Tribune.
He entered what’s known as a Norgaard plea—used when a defendant cannot recall the crime but agrees that the evidence supports a conviction—on second-degree murder and two counts of child endangerment.
The sentencing, delivered Tuesday in Meeker County District Court, comes with a prison term of 30 years and seven months, though with credit for time already served, Demarais is expected to spend roughly 19 years incarcerated before transitioning to supervised release, the Star Tribune reported.
In his plea filing, Demarais claimed that he was severely sleep-deprived and off his prescribed medication at the time of the shooting. He told police he no longer saw his wife “as a person, but as a shadow,” as reported by CBS News.
After shooting her multiple times with a rifle—nine times, according to investigators—he called 911, calmly stating, “I would like to report a murder,” and surrendered without resistance when officers arrived.
The couple’s children, then ages 11 and 8, were in a bedroom during the shooting.
According to court documents cited by CBS News, they heard gunfire and witnessed their mother fall before Demarais closed the door to the room and fired additional shots. While the children were not physically harmed, officers helped them exit the home through a bedroom window.
Emergency responders found Kayla Demarais dead on the living room floor. The crime sent shockwaves through the community west of the Twin Cities, leaving family and friends struggling to process the loss.
“My beautiful sister was taken from this world, leaving 2 young children and a family devastated,” wrote Kayla’s sister, Casey Watts, in an online fundraiser created shortly after the shooting to help with related expenses.
The case involved a Norgaard plea, a legal option in Minnesota for defendants who claim they cannot remember committing a crime but concede that the evidence would likely lead to a conviction. Demarais acknowledged the prosecution’s account of events and accepted responsibility through the plea, resulting in a sentence of over 30 years in prison.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
If you are experiencing domestic abuse, you are not alone. Help is available. Call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233 or text "START" to 88788 to connect with trained advocates 24/7. Support is free, confidential, and available in over 200 languages. You can also visit thehotline.org for more information and resources.
Must Read
Editor Picks
Latest Articles
Man Who Murdered Cheating Wife in Front of Kids Says He Doesn’t Remember; Court Accepts Rare Plea
Minnesota’s Norgaard plea allowed him to admit the killing despite claiming amnesia.
By Jacob Charles
Published: August 2, 2025 8:30 am ET
Bryan Demarais (via Meeker County Jail)
DASSEL, MN — A central Minnesota man who fatally shot his wife while their two children were in the home has been sentenced to more than 30 years in prison, after pleading guilty under a rarely used legal provision that acknowledges guilt without full memory of the crime.
Bryan W. Demarais, 36, admitted in court to killing his wife, Kayla M. Demarais, inside their rural Dassel home on December 28, 2023, during what he described as a heated argument over marital issues, according to the Star Tribune.
He entered what’s known as a Norgaard plea—used when a defendant cannot recall the crime but agrees that the evidence supports a conviction—on second-degree murder and two counts of child endangerment.
The sentencing, delivered Tuesday in Meeker County District Court, comes with a prison term of 30 years and seven months, though with credit for time already served, Demarais is expected to spend roughly 19 years incarcerated before transitioning to supervised release, the Star Tribune reported.
In his plea filing, Demarais claimed that he was severely sleep-deprived and off his prescribed medication at the time of the shooting. He told police he no longer saw his wife “as a person, but as a shadow,” as reported by CBS News.
After shooting her multiple times with a rifle—nine times, according to investigators—he called 911, calmly stating, “I would like to report a murder,” and surrendered without resistance when officers arrived.
The couple’s children, then ages 11 and 8, were in a bedroom during the shooting.
According to court documents cited by CBS News, they heard gunfire and witnessed their mother fall before Demarais closed the door to the room and fired additional shots. While the children were not physically harmed, officers helped them exit the home through a bedroom window.
Emergency responders found Kayla Demarais dead on the living room floor. The crime sent shockwaves through the community west of the Twin Cities, leaving family and friends struggling to process the loss.
“My beautiful sister was taken from this world, leaving 2 young children and a family devastated,” wrote Kayla’s sister, Casey Watts, in an online fundraiser created shortly after the shooting to help with related expenses.
The case involved a Norgaard plea, a legal option in Minnesota for defendants who claim they cannot remember committing a crime but concede that the evidence would likely lead to a conviction. Demarais acknowledged the prosecution’s account of events and accepted responsibility through the plea, resulting in a sentence of over 30 years in prison.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
If you are experiencing domestic abuse, you are not alone. Help is available. Call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233 or text "START" to 88788 to connect with trained advocates 24/7. Support is free, confidential, and available in over 200 languages. You can also visit thehotline.org for more information and resources.
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