Kara Ann Monson, 26, was killed on September 2, 2013, in Granite Falls, Minnesota. Born September 3, 1986, in Granite Falls, she was the daughter of Tom and Patrice Monson, a Yellow Medicine East High School graduate who trained at the Aveda Institute in Minneapolis and worked as a stylist at Susie’s Hair Company in Montevideo. She is described as a free spirit devoted to her family, especially her young daughter.

Kara and her 28-year-old boyfriend, Chris Panitzke of Redwood Falls, were both shot multiple times inside Kara’s home. Andrew Dikken, Kara’s 28-year-old ex-boyfriend, became the primary suspect. Reports say he fled the area, sparked a manhunt of more than two weeks, and turned himself in to authorities on September 17, 2013. He was charged with two counts of second-degree murder and was described as a white male about 5 feet 11 inches and 200 pounds.