Who Murdered the Olson Brothers in Bristol Township?

In the winter of 1936, the quiet farmland near Harmony, Minnesota became the scene of a brutal double murder. Knute and Sever Olson—two bachelor brothers known for their frugality and rumored stash of hidden cash—were found dead on their isolated farmstead in Bristol Township. The crime shocked Fillmore County and sparked a flurry of speculation: Was it robbery? Revenge? Or something darker?

In this episode, Lenora and Preston sift through newspaper clippings, family lore, and long-buried confessions to piece together a case that remains unsolved to this day. From whispers of bootlegging to a man who claimed responsibility before dying in a mysterious fire, the Olson murders are a haunting reminder of how secrets can linger in the soil—and how justice sometimes never arrives.

📚 Sources Referenced

The Winona Republican

Winona Daily News

The Brainard Daily Dispatch 12/9/1936

The Worthington Globe 12/3/1936

Rochester Post Bulletin 12/26/1936,  2/9/1937, 2/11/1937, 2/17/1937, 8/27/1937, 4/25/2015

The Austin Daily Herald 4/24/1937