NEW ULM — Jury selection began Monday for a 10-day jury murder trial for a 60-year-old St. James man accused of first- and second-degree murder for allegedly shooting his wife and stepdaughter in St. James June 16, 2018.

Two felony first-degree premeditated murder charges, two second-degree murder charges and a second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon charge were filed against Scott F. Engelbrecht after Joyce A. Engelbrecht, 67, and Rachel Linder, 43, were found shot.

According to court documents, St. James Police responded to 1124 1st Ave. S., St. James, June 16, 2018, on a report someone was shot. At the residence, police saw Engelbrecht walking east through the backyard of 1122 1st Ave. S. carrying a .22-caliber rifle. A police officer unholstered his weapon and ordered Engelbrecht to drop his gun. Engelbrecht leaned the rifle against a tree and walked toward police.

Engelbrecht said something to the effect of, “I shot her” or “I did it.” He walked towards police with his hands and wrists together, as though he was ready to be handcuffed.

As Engelbrecht walked toward police, Linder’s son yelled from the porch of 1124 1st Ave. S. that Engelbrecht shot his grandmother. Police told him to turn around and put his hands behind his back. Prior to doing that, he reached into his pocked and pulled out several .22- caliber shells and put them on the driveway. Engelbrecht was arrested and placed in a squad car.

Police walked into the residence at 1124 1st Ave. S. and saw Joyce Engelbrecht on the floor. She was transferred to the hospital, initially listed in critical condition. She was declared dead June 17.

Linder’s son told police the couple argued because Scott Engelbrecht forgot their wedding anniversary that year and for the past few years in a row. Linder’s son said he later heard a thud as if someone fell on the floor upstairs. He said his mother yelled “you shot her, you !@@#.”

Linder’s son said he ran upstairs with a stun gun and saw Scott Engelbrecht holding a .22- caliber rifle pointed toward the kitchen. He said Scott Engelbrecht turned the rifle on him, so he unsuccessfully tried to use the stun gun on him.

Linder’s son told police he ran into the basement, locked himself in a bathroom and called 911, then came outside when he saw police yelling at Engelbrecht.

Police found Linder deceased, two houses away. She suffered three bullet wounds, in the back, left forearm and in the head, according to the Ramsey County Medical Examiner.

Scott Engelbrecht did not deny shooting either victim during statements under Miranda.

Several months ago, Watonwan County District Judge Stephen Ferrazzano granted a change of venue in the case, ruling that potentially prejudicial material created a reasonable likelihood that a fair trial cannot be had. The case was moved from Watonwan to Brown County District Court.

The defendant argued that due to extensive media coverage and vitriol expressed in social media, change of venue is the only option. The defendant presented a jury survey conducted by the National Jury Project that recommended any trial for this case be moved to a different county.

Ferrazzano denied a motion for suppression of incriminating statements Engelbrecht made to police after he was arrested. His lawyers, lead by Minneapolis attorney Ryan Drea argued that his Miranda rights were violated because no Miranda warning was given.

A memo read that in the Court’s examination of each individual interview, the testimony heard, and arguments given by each party, the Court finds Engelbecht’s statements to law enforcement are admissible. The interviews themselves were not extensive in length, the interrogation was not hostile or coercive, and Engelbrecht was not deprived of physical needs.

“It is apparent to the Court that Engelbrecht had the ability to comprehend and, in examining the totality of the circumstances, did validly waive his Miranda rights,” read the memo. “The State has met its burden demonstrating the Defendant knowing and intelligently waiving his privilege against self-incrimination, and his statements were voluntarily given.”

Engelbrecht remains in Brown County Jail custody on $4,000,000 bail.