MORRISTOWN, MN – A Minnesota man pleaded guilty to second-degree murder on Friday after admitting to fatally shooting his roommate under the influence of drugs. The incident occurred in the small town of Morristown, where Cody Kolstad, 35, shot his roommate, Brian Daniel Stoeckel, after experiencing a drug-induced belief that someone had to die.
The fatal episode unfolded on May 31, 2022, when Kolstad, convinced that either he or Stoeckel had to die by midnight, retrieved a loaded shotgun from an unlocked gun cabinet. He then approached Stoeckel, who was asleep and fired at him, resulting in a fatal neck wound.
Following the shooting, Kolstad made a frantic call to 911 at around 12:40 a.m., urging responders to “just come look” and requested them to “bring the coroner.” When law enforcement from the Rice County Sheriff’s Office arrived, they found Kolstad lying facedown on the grass, admitting to the shooting.
“I shot him in the head,” Kolstad confessed to a deputy on the scene. Officers soon discovered Stoeckel’s lifeless body inside their residence.
In a conversation with deputies after being read his Miranda rights, Kolstad bizarrely requested that they “put one in my head and burn me in that building,” expressing remorse for taking a life. He also admitted to consuming “lots of drugs” prior to the event, which, according to him, led to his delusional belief that one of them needed to die.
Kolstad initially faced charges of first-degree murder, but as part of a plea agreement, he admitted to second-degree murder. This agreement is expected to result in a 25-year prison sentence, with the official sentencing scheduled for May 2.
Stoeckel’s death has left a considerable void among his loved ones, as noted in his obituary. He was remembered for his captivating stories and humor, which invariably left those around him with tales of his antics.
As the community processes this tragic event, Kolstad’s case underscores the devastating consequences of drug abuse and unchecked access to firearms, particularly in situations involving mental instability.