Man Murdered by Neighbor for Feeding Deer

It began with the animal parts. Then came the dead squirrels, apparently shot with a BB gun and tossed in the driveway, followed by dead birds. When the doe and fawn were found slain on a lawn, residents in the quiet New Brighton neighborhood began to realize they had a serious problem in their midst.

Shortly before 8:30 p.m. Monday, it got a whole lot worse.

That’s when police arrived at the 2500 block of Knollwood Drive to find 46-year-old Todd G. Stevens and his longtime girlfriend, Jennifer Damerow Cleven, 48, on the ground in their front yard. Both had been shot, apparently by a neighbor who had once sent out a rambling, derisive note warning his neighbors about the risks of feeding deer. Despite lifesaving efforts, Stevens was declared dead at the scene. Damerow Cleven was taken to Hennepin County Medical Center for treatment. She was released Tuesday afternoon but said she was too distraught to speak with reporters.

http://www.startribune.com/local/east/258115851.html

 

It's not illegal to feed deer in Minnesota.

The victim and his girlfriend had called police dozens of times to try to get the shooter to quit harassing them over feeding the deer. They called the police after dead animals were found in their yard, including two dead deer. They got a restraining order on the shooter's son, because he had threatened them. Apparently the guy did not explore any other avenues other than harassment.

More on this story:
http://www.startribune.com/local/east/258322291.html

 

He claimed he contracted lyme disease from the ticks carried by the deer. The shooter wrote a rambling letter about it and distributed it to the neighborhood a couple of years earlier. Letter may be seen here:

http://stmedia.startribune.com/documents/Suspect's+letter+complaining+about+deer+feeding+(2).pdf