Minnesota Attorney Beat Ex-Wife To Death In Front Of Their Five Children

A Minnesota attorney is behind bars after allegedly beating his ex-wife to death in front of their children because she wanted to take them to church. 

Anders Odegaard, 31, has been charged with second-degree murder. He is being held on a $2.5 million bond. 

Deputies were called to the Odegaard’s home on Tuesday for a report of a domestic dispute. The 911 caller told police he was flagged down by two boys who asked the man to call 911 because their mother, Carissa Odegaard, was bleeding badly.

When deputies arrived at the home, they found Odegaard wearing nothing but boxer briefs and covered in blood. He allegedly told the responding officer that he “didn’t feel right.” The officer then discovered Carissa’s body lying in the front doorway in a pool of blood.

Carissa was taken to a local hospital. She was later flown to a Fargo hospital but was pronounced brain dead on Wednesday.

According to court documents obtained by KLTV, all five of the Odegaard’s children were home at the time of the assault. The youngest, just 2 years old, was in his mother’s arms when the attack occurred. Two of the children were in their mother’s car and did not witness the assault. 

The 9-year-old child told investigators that he and his siblings stayed at his dad’s house on Aug. 22, and when their mom came to get them, the two began arguing. He said he believed his dad beat his mom with a knife or a spatula. 

The 8-year-old child said the Odegaards started arguing because Carissa wanted to take them to church, and Anders didn’t want them to leave.

Odegaard, who works as an attorney, has not yet posted a bond. Prosecutors have said they have concerns regarding his mental health and will address them at the next hearing, scheduled for Aug. 30.