Family Found Dead East of Bozeman on Friday – Sheriff’s Office Statement

On Friday evening around 5pm, the Gallatin County Sheriff's Office responded to a 911 hang up call. When they reached the  residence east of Bozeman they found 2 adults and 1 child dead. The victims were identified as Joe and Jenn Knarr and their six-month old son Daniel Knarr.

Here is the written text provided by the Gallatin County Sheriff's Office that supported Sheriff Brian Gootkin's press conference on Saturday:

On March 11, 2016, at 5 pm, an unidentified person called Gallatin County 911. The caller immediately hung up. The dispatcher recognized the number as belonging to FWP Sergeant Joe Knarr. The dispatcher notified two Gallatin County Sheriff’s deputies who were responding Knarr’s residence, 341 Golden Trout Way, in Gallatin County. The deputies found that the house was locked.  Dispatch made several attempts to call Joe Knarr’s number, and his wife, FWP Warden Jen Knarr’s, number, but no one answered any of the calls. The deputy looked through a window and saw a person’s legs lying on the floor in the residence. The deputies then had to kick open the front door and entered the residence.  When the deputies entered into the dining room of the residence they immediately saw two bodies on the floor.  Joe Knarr and Jen Knarr were deceased, both having suffered gunshot wounds.  When the deputies looked elsewhere in the house, they found six month old Daniel Knarr.  They immediately removed Daniel and attempted resuscitation with a volunteer firefighter but were unsuccessful.

The investigation and evidence indicated that Jen Knarr walked behind Joe who was sitting in the dining room and shot him in the back of the head.  She then walked to Daniel and shot him in the chest.  This was when Jen called 911, hung up, sat down and shot herself.  Deputies recovered a Sig Sauer model 229 .40 caliber handgun. That weapon was issued to Jen Knarr by FWP as her duty weapon.  Three shell casings were found in the Knarr residence.  When Sheriff Brian Gootkin spoke with family members they all indicated that Jen had been battling postpartum depression.  All three individuals were transported to the State Medical Examiner’s Office for autopsies.  The investigation will continue.  If you have any questions contact Sheriff Gootkin at (406) 539-8824