Morrison County hunter death remains mystery nearly a year later

MORRISON COUNTY, Minn. (KMSP) - In Morrison County, the fall deer hunt arrives this year with one giant and troubling unknown.

Who killed Terry Brisk?

Brisk, a father of four, was shot to death on his family’s private property almost a year ago to the day.

He was out deer hunting on a Monday afternoon when his teenage son discovered him.

“It makes me feel sad because I miss him so much,” said Frances “Babe” Brisk, Terry’s mom. “I cry every day for him. I just can’t get over that he’s not with me anymore.”

Frances, Terry's dad, and his siblings placed a large granite memorial near the spot where he was killed. The granite comes from the family’s nearby gravel pit. It was supposed to be a gravestone marker for his elderly parents one day. Instead, it now honors the 41-year-old diesel mechanic.

“I come here every day to inspect the gravel pit and then drive out here to look at it, meditate and then back up,” said Virgil Brisk, Terry's father.

“We come out here quite often,” said Frances. “Just to feel we’re in touch with Terry yet. He loved hunting out here.”

Authorities haven’t shared much detail about the year-long investigation. They say Terry took the day off from work to hunt. His beloved and trusted rifle, given to him as a childhood gift, was taken when he was murdered.

Investigators returned to the fields and woods east of Little Falls last April, looking for any shred of evidence that might have been missed in the immediate aftermath processing the scene.

A $30,000 reward for information leading to an arrest hasn’t cracked the case.

“The day he got shot, no one knew he was hunting except his family, his wife, his children and his boss,” said Frances. “They were the only ones who knew he was off that day. That’s what makes it so hard to understand how someone would come out here and do that.” 

“I got suspects,” said Virgil. “I just can’t say for sure. I have no evidence. No reason to say one particular guy done it.”

The Brisks need to know the who and the why.

“I need to know what happened,” said Frances. “Did he suffer a lot? How did he get shot? I’d like to know who done that to him.”

Morrison County Sheriff Shawn Larsen is leading the probe. He declined Fox 9’s on-camera interview request, saying his office does have new information in the case, but he plans on releasing those details next week a little closer to the November 7 anniversary date of the murder.

"It's really hard for our family,” said Frances.

So Terry's parents wait again, each day that goes by without closure - excruciating.

“I wish someone would come forward if they shot Terry,” said Frances. “Please come forward. Let our families get some peace out of it.”