Meeker County, Minnesota – A 31-year-old man, Bryan Demarais, has been sentenced to over 30 years in prison for the 2023 murder of his wife, Kayla Demarais, after a heated argument triggered by the discovery of an extramarital affair.
On Tuesday, Meeker County District Judge Stephanie L. Beckman sentenced Demarais to 30 years and 5 months for second-degree murder involving the use of a firearm, along with concurrent sentences for felony child endangerment related to the couple’s two children being present during the shooting.
The Crime and Investigation
On December 28, 2023, Bryan Demarais called 911 and admitted to killing his wife, saying he had “just shot his wife” during an argument at their home in the 22000 block of 713th Avenue. Upon arrival, deputies found Kayla Demarais dead from a gunshot wound to the head.
Bryan Demarais, who exited the house willingly when law enforcement arrived, was immediately taken into custody.
Bryan told the dispatcher he had shot his wife several times with a .22 caliber handgun during a violent argument. He also expressed concern for his two children, ages 8 and 11, requesting that they be removed from the house so they would not see their mother’s “bullet-riddled” body.
Bryan later admitted to police that the argument started the night before when they discussed marital issues, including financial struggles and Kayla’s affair. On the morning of the murder, Bryan had looked at his wife’s phone and found text messages from her lover, identified as “Witness”.
According to a probable cause affidavit, Bryan became enraged after reading these messages, accusing his wife of cheating and not working on their relationship.
The Fatal Morning
Bryan told investigators that after the argument, he went to work but became more enraged after receiving a call from his wife, which he ignored. He later returned home early from work and confronted his wife, leading to a violent altercation.
The couple’s children witnessed the aftermath of the argument, hearing multiple gunshots and their mother screaming before she fell to the ground. The children reported hearing their father instruct them to close the bedroom door shortly after the incident.
The murder weapon was Kayla Demarais’ own gun, a .22-caliber semi-automatic handgun, which Bryan Demarais used to kill her in their home.
Legal Consequences and Family Impact
Bryan Demarais pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and two counts of felony child endangerment, receiving 30 years in prison, with the possibility of parole after serving about 19 years. His sentence also includes time served, as he had already spent 579 days in jail before sentencing.
Despite the tragedy, Kayla Demarais’ family expressed their grief over the loss of a mother, daughter, and sister. Her foster sister, Tracey Coleman, shared how deeply her family had been impacted by the murder, especially Kayla’s two children, who lost their mother in a violent and senseless act.
This tragic case highlights the devastating effects of domestic violence and the consequences of unresolved marital issues. The killing of Kayla Demarais has left a family broken, and Bryan Demarais now faces decades behind bars for his crime, with his two children left to process the horror of what occurred in their own home.
