GAYLORD — A 45-year-old rural Winthrop man accused of killing a 79-year-old rural Winthrop man last September, was charged with felony second-degree murder in Sibley County District Court Monday.

Unconditional bail was set at $1 million for Travis J. Bauer, 27493 521st Avenue, Winthrop. Conditional bail was set at $50,000 cash or $500,000 bond. A remote, omnibus hearing was set for 11 a.m., Thursday, April 6.

Bauer was arrested March 10 for the murder of Dennis Weitzenkamp which occurred Sept. 20, 2022 in Transit Township. The Sibley County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.

According to court documents, the Sibley County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call from Bauer that Weitzenkamp was unresponsive at a farm at 54100 266th Street, Winthrop at 2:35 p.m. Sept. 20, 2022. Bauer told dispatch that he just met Weitzenkamp on the road 10-15 minutes earlier as he was driving to Winthrop on CR 57.

Winthrop Police Chief Logan Anderson arrived on the scene first and saw Weitzenkamp slumped over a chair in a machine shed. A large pool of blood appeared to be right below Weitzenkamp’s head and there was a wound in the back of his head that was bleeding.

Weitzenkamp appeared to have been about to shuck an ear of corn just before the trauma happened. There were two unshucked ears of corn nearby.

In an interview with law enforcement later that day, Bauer said he went to the farm at about 1:30 p.m. that day, noticed he needed anti-freeze and other items and drove to Winthrop to go to the NAPA vehicle parts store. Bauer said he returned to the farm, saw Weitzenkamp, yelled to him several times, returned to his vehicle and called 911.

Cell phone data showed that Bauer’s statement to law enforcement was not accurate, that he took a different route to Winthrop earlier in the day. Surveillance video confirmed he was traveling west on TH 19, not on on CR 57 where he said he saw Weitzenkamp traveling and he was not where he said was at the time of day he told law enforcement.

An autopsy performed on Weitzenkamp revealed he was shot in the back of the head with a small caliber bullet. Bauer later admitted to law enforcement that he lied in earlier interviews with them.

Law enforcement collected Bauer’s clothing after his first interview. Bauer said the last time he fired a gun was three weeks earlier. His clothing was sent to a lab to be examined for gun shot residue (GSR).

The lab confirmed GSR was on Bauer’s cap and pants and elements of GSR were found on his shirt and belt. GSR confirmation is generally not expected to be found on clothing that was washed, exposed to elements or subject to physical activity.

Examining Bauer’s finances, law enforcement discovered he had significant debt and was behind on bills. About an hour prior to Weitzenkamp being found dead, Bauer received multiple phone calls informing him he was late on payments for his home and if payments were not made, he could lose the home.

Trust documents were found indicating Bauer would received a significant financial benefit from Weizenkamp’s death.