Investigation underway after woman found dead in rural Blue Earth County [Video]

BLUE EARTH COUNTY, Minn. — The circumstances of a homicide are being investigated in Blue Earth County. 

Kristi Joy Gardner, 57, of rural Lake Crystal was found dead Thursday, the Blue Earth County Sheriff’s Office said in a press release. The manner was determined to be homicide and cause was multiple gunshot wounds. 

Authorities tried to locate the man she was in a relationship with. Officials with the sheriff’s office say he was found unresponsive from an apparent self inflicted gunshot wound at his home. He was taken to a hospital were officials said he is unresponsive in the ICU. 

The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is working with the Blue Earth County Sheriff’s Office on the investigation.