Oakdale woman allegedly killed by husband in murder-suicide in a field in rural Dakota County

A man killed his wife before committing suicide in a field in Dakota County, the sheriff's office said Wednesday.

The Dakota County Sheriff's Office responded to the field in Empire after a family member called around 8 p.m. Sunday.

Payao Vang, 27, and Smith Coop Brown, 65, were found dead in a field near 210th Street East and Clayton Avenue.

A son became concerned after his father and stepmother did not return to Oakdale after going to their rented farm earlier in the day, according to the sheriff's office. He and another family member drove to the farm and found the couple dead, apparently from gunshot wounds.

Vang died of a gunshot wound in a homicide, the Hennepin County Medical Examiner's Office said Wednesday. Brown committed suicide, the medical examiner's office determined.

The sheriff's office said they found a gun in Brown's hand and another in his jacket pocket.

The investigation is ongoing “to determine what may have led to this tragic incident,” Sheriff Joe Leko said in a statement.

Brown officially changed his name from Dang Lee in 2016, and a court record at the time said he had no prior conviction of a crime in any state. Minnesota court records since then show no criminal case against him.

For help

Domestic violence help is available 24 hours a day in Minnesota through the Day One Crisis Hotline by calling 866-223-1111 or texting 612-399-9995.

The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is also available 24 hours a day by phone or text on 988.

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