Sandy Sandland, 53, was found dead in her Crystal, Minnesota home on July 12, 2017. Officers responding to a 911 call arrived at the Yates Avenue North residence about 6:30 p.m. after the couple’s adult son reported that his father had called to say he had just shot his mother and that multiple firearms were in the house. Dennis John Sandland, 56, briefly came outside and then went back into the home, prompting a standoff that ended when a SWAT team negotiator secured his surrender roughly two hours later.

Inside the house, officers discovered Sandra Kay Sandland deceased in her bed from multiple gunshot wounds and a handgun lying beside her; the Hennepin County Medical Examiner later confirmed the cause of death as gunshot wounds. Family told police the marriage had been troubled, with frequent fighting and past violence, and officers noted a prior domestic disturbance call to the home in 2010. During medical processing, Dennis Sandland—whose blood alcohol was recorded at .094—was overheard saying he was angry with his wife and had shot her in the head.

Anyone with information about Sandy Sandland, the couple’s relationship, or events leading up to July 12, 2017 is asked to come forward.