Margaret Eloise Ault Hittle, 45, was shot to death at her farm home in Motley, Minnesota, on April 4, 1973. She and her husband, John Henry Hittle, 46, were both killed between 11 p.m. and midnight; reports describe the deaths as a double homicide at the entrance of the home.

Authorities say the killer was their adoptive son, 23-year-old Daniel Joe Hittle. The shooting followed an argument about the family dog; Daniel allegedly retrieved a shotgun, shot Margaret instantly after an exchange during the dispute, and then shot John when he tried to reach for a firearm. Neighbors alerted law enforcement, and Daniel was arrested without resistance and charged with two counts of first-degree murder. Bond was set at $15,000.

Daniel’s history of violent behavior when intoxicated and longstanding resentment toward his adoptive mother are noted in accounts of the case. Did anyone in Motley at the time remember tensions in the household or the night of April 4, 1973?