Two Minnesota educators are dead following a suspected murder-suicide that has left a community in mourning and two young children without their mother. Authorities say 32-year-old Crystal Marschel was killed by her boyfriend, 34-year-old John Gans, before he took his own life on July 18.
The tragedy unfolded in the city of Pierz, where law enforcement was called to perform a welfare check after Marschel failed to appear in court on a misdemeanor charge. When officers arrived at the residence on River Valley Road, they found both Marschel and Gans deceased from gunshot wounds. A .40 caliber handgun was recovered at the scene. According to the Midwest Medical Examiner’s Office, Marschel died of a gunshot wound to the head and her death was ruled a homicide. Gans’s death was classified as suicide.
Marschel and Gans had both worked at Sauk Rapids-Rice Schools. Marschel was a physical education teacher employed with the district from 2019 until this year. Gans, a former football player at St. John’s University, had taught mathematics in the district from 2013 to 2024. Both had been facing personal and legal challenges—Marschel for a driving-related charge, and Gans, who was reportedly in the midst of a divorce, also had a court hearing scheduled for the same day he was found dead.
Family and friends are struggling with immensity of the loss, especially Marschel’s two children, ages three and five, who are now in the care of their father, Austen. The family has launched a GoFundMe campaign to take care of the children in the future. They hope to cover basic living expenses, therapy, and childcare.
Marschel is remembered as a devoted mother who loved her children. Her death is a terrible reminder of the spectre of domestic violence that continues to keep a stranglehold on our communities.
While the Morrison County Sheriff’s Office has not released additional details about the days or hours leading up to the incident, the case has shaken local residents and the school district alike. Colleagues and former students are expressing grief and disbelief over the loss of two educators who were once a part of daily life in area classrooms.
If you or someone you know is experiencing a crisis, help is available. Contact the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988.
