Man arrested late Friday in connection with Winthrop murder

Travis Lee Bauer was arrested late Friday and is expected to be charged with second degree murder in connection to the death of a rural Winthrop man last September.

Bauer reportedly had a working relationship with Dennis Weitzenkamp.   It was mid-afternoon on Tuesday, September 20th when the Sibley County Sheriff’s Office received a call about an unresponsive person at a rural farm site about one mile north of the City of Winthrop (Transit Township).    Upon arrival, first responders found 79-year-old Weitzenkamp deceased with what was reported as “unknown trauma.”  His death was quickly ruled a homicide.

The Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) has been assisting the Sibley County Sheriff’s Office in investigating this case.

The Sibley County Sheriff’s Office issued a brief news release Saturday morning on Bauer’s arrest..  The 46-year-old was arrested at the Sibley County Sheriff’s Office.  He is currently in custody in McLeod County and is expected to be formally charged with second degree murder Monday.  Second-degree murder is typically murder with malicious intent but not premeditated.

Sibley County Sheriff Pat Nienaber would not comment any further on the case.  He said more information will be provided in the criminal complaint which is expected to be available sometime Monday.