On the night of April 4, 1973, in rural Motley, Minnesota, Henry John Hittle, 46, and his wife Margaret, 45, were shot and killed inside their farmhouse between about 11 p.m. and midnight. Neighbors who heard gunfire called authorities, and officers found both bodies just inside the front door.

The investigation quickly focused on the couple’s adoptive son, Daniel Joe Hittle, who was arrested at the scene. The killings reportedly began after an argument about the family dog; Daniel allegedly believed the dog had scratched his truck, and a confrontation with Margaret escalated when she challenged him. Daniel had a documented history of substance abuse and violent behavior that the report links to the outburst.

Daniel Joe Hittle was charged with two counts of first-degree murder and later pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree murder, receiving a 30-year sentence. Does anyone have memories of the Motley community in 1973 or information about the Hittle family that could add context to this case?