Two dead in domestic dispute

By Danielle Strenke and
Barbara Brown
A husband and wife are dead following a domestic dispute that turned violent in the early morning hours Monday at their North Branch home.
North Branch Police officers responded to a domestic disturbance call from Jane Samec, 45, in the 5100 block of Finley Court shortly after 1 a.m. Monday, Feb. 17, police said.
Two North Branch officers arrived at the home and Jane Samec said she believed her husband William Samec, 45, was gone, according to North Branch Police Chief Jules Zimmer.
However, an officer spotted William Samec in the garage attached to the home and the officer saw that William Samec had a gun, Zimmer said.
William Samec re-entered the house and shortly after that an officer heard several shots from inside the house and saw through the front door William Samec fire the gun at Jane Samec, Zimmer said.
Investigation revealed that William Samec had shot at the North Branch officer as he was re-entering the home, Zimmer said.
The North Branch officer returned fire through the front door, striking William Samec once in the shoulder.
When officers went inside, they found both William Samec and Jane Samec dead from gunshot wounds, according to Zimmer.
According to the coroner, William Samec died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head, Zimmer said Tuesday morning.
One of the Samecís four children was home at the time of the apparent murder-suicide.
The 7-year-old boy and his 19, 17 and 16 year old siblings are staying with family.
The North Branch officer who fired his weapon was not identified Tuesday by Zimmer.
In accordance with normal police procedure, the officer is on paid administrative leave pending closure of the investigation by the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, Zimmer said.
Neighbors shocked
Neighbors who knew the
couple said Monday they were shocked that an event like Mondayís happened in such a quiet neighborhood in North Branch.
None of them said they had heard any noises prior to 1 a.m. coming from inside the home.
Many of those neighbors closest to the cul-de-sac where the Samecs lived awoke Monday to heavy traffic and the sight of several police vehicles moving through the neighborhood. Most had not heard anything until they were leaving for work.
Throughout the day Monday, as the investigation inside the home continued, a steady stream of traffic worked its way past the scene, leaving most residents in disbelief, they said.
One of the North Branch school bus drivers who covers the route heard the news as she and a fellow bus driver drove by Monday morning.
ìThis is awful ... those kids,î she said, unable to hold back tears.
Friends close to the coupleís children said they knew the Samecs had been having problems. ìBut I didnít know it would go to this extreme,î one girl said.
Another girl close to the
family said she thought Jane Samec had asked William Samec to move out, and had filed a restraining order against him.
According to police, the restraining order was never received by William Samec because he could not be located.
Despite the problems between the husband and wife, friends of the Samec children always were welcomed into the home by Jane Samec, Dan Nelson said. Nelson graduated with one of the couplesí sons.
ìYou could call her mom ñ she always made sure her kids were having fun, despite having a tough time lately,î Nelson said.
ìSheíd joke around with us, let all the friends hang out at her house. She was the nicest person and the nicest mom.
ìItís really sad this had to happen,î he said.
Nelson said he thought the family may have been afraid of Samec.
ìI would come over after he [William Samec] left, she would always have the doors locked and tell the kids to lock them,î he said.
Chief Jules Zimmer said Tuesday the North Branch police had received only two calls in the past three years to the home.
In 2000, police were called regarding a verbal domestic argument. The second time was a call from Jane Samec regarding information on how to get an order for protection against her husband. The Samec family moved to North Branch five years ago from St. Paul.
Many of those who stopped to find out what had happened Monday reflected on how well liked the family is and called the apparent murder-suicide a terrible tragedy.
The incident is being investigated by the North Branch Police Department, Chisago County Sheriffís Department and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.
Family members set up an account at Community National Bank for donations to help support the children. For information, call (651) 674-8000.

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