Three dead near Fort Dodge in apparent murder-suicide shooting

RURAL FORT DODGE – Two women are dead of gunshot wounds, and a male suspect is dead from a self-inflicted bullet at a crime scene just north of Fort Dodge.

On Sunday evening, January 28, 2024, authorities were called to a rural residence just north of Fort Dodge at 7:40 PM Sunday night. Emergency responders arrived at 2101 140th Street after a juvenile caller stated that two people had been shot at the location. The suspect had fled the location on foot. Webster County Sheriff’s Deputies arrived within minutes of the call.

After entering the residence, they located the bodies of two females that had been shot, laying in the garage area of the residence. The deputies immediately attempted life saving medical procedures on both victims until paramedics arrived on the scene. Webster County Sheriff Luke Fleener said the life saving attempts were not successful with both victims pronounced dead at the scene. Other responding deputies and Fort Dodge police officers searched the immediate area. Authorities located a male that appeared to have died from self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Criminal Investigation Division Detectives were called to the scene to process all evidence and conduct interviews to determine what had taken place. Sheriff Fleener said that at this time, there is no threat to the public with the investigation continuing.

The victims have been identified as 39-year-old Molly R. Barlow, 63-year-old Phyllis J. Versteeg and 41-year old Duran M. Barlow.

The Webster County Sheriff’s Office was assisted at the scene by the Fort Dodge Police Department, the Iowa State Patrol, Badger, Clare and Fort Dodge Fire Departments, the Webster County Attorney’s Office and the Webster County Medical Examiner’s Office.