The incident came to light on March 30, when a man went to check on his brother at his home in Holmesville Township after he failed to show up for work. Upon arrival, he found him dead from an apparent gunshot wound. Responding deputies later discovered the man’s young son, who had also died from a gunshot wound.
Authorities identified the victims as 45-year-old Gene Bartnes and his son, Koltyn. Officials determined that Bartnes died by suicide, while the child’s death was ruled a homicide. No motive has been publicly confirmed.
Koltyn’s mother, Kristi Frazier, told local media that Bartnes reportedly left behind three suicide notes, including one expressing apology. She also said she had heard he had been acting unusually prior to the incident but did not anticipate such a tragedy.
A fundraiser has since been launched to support Frazier and her family, with organizers describing the devastating loss and the unimaginable grief she is now facing.
