Four years ago on Nov. 7, 41-year-old Terrence “Terry” Brisk was found dead after suffering a gunshot wound while apparently hunting alone on his parents' property east of Little Falls.

The Morrison County Sheriff’s Office responded shortly after 5 p.m. Nov. 7, 2016, to the area where Brisk was found in Belle Prairie Township, near the intersection of Hawthorn and Jewel roads. Initially, the incident was characterized as a possible hunting accident, as Brisk was wearing blaze orange.

But it was no hunting accident.

Through the sheriff’s office investigation, it was confirmed that Brisk’s death was a homicide. The Ramsey County Medical Examiner's Office determined Brisk died from blood loss attributed to the gunshot wound. This finding, as well as other evidence, showed someone shot Brisk, killing him with the Brisk’s own firearm, a Winchester Model 30-30 lever action rifle. His rifle was preserved and submitted immediately to the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension laboratory after it was located.

Four years later, the sheriff’s office continues to investigate the case with assistance from the BCA and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The sheriff’s office reported very few tips have been provided to the sheriff’s office and authorities continue to ask the public for their assistance in this case.

With the anniversary of Brisk’s death approaching, Morrison County Sheriff Shawn Larsen said Thursday, Nov. 5, he hopes it will spark new leads for the sheriff’s office. Anyone with any information big or small can contact the sheriff’s office or go through Crime Stoppers of Minnesota where they can remain anonymous.

“We’re trying to throw a little bit of the facts out there to hopefully shed a little bit of light,” Larsen said of the case. “This person (the killer) was in close proximity to Terry. We know that because of evidence at the scene and this person shot Terry and killed him with his own weapon. “Sometimes (hearing this information may make) people ... start talking about it again and maybe they didn't realize it the first time, but now they're taking a second look at it and saying, wait a second, I can help all because either A) I have this piece of information, or B) I hope the sheriff's office knows this. As long as it gets people talking, that's what we want and we want to get any information that they may have.”

Larsen said they have not received any recent leads, but in the past four years there have been advances in technology that have opened new doors for investigators. Larsen could not go into detail on what those advances are.

Based on evidence, the sheriff’s office learned through the investigation that the suspect was in close proximity to Brisk when he was shot and that they may have interacted prior to the man’s murder. Larsen said they believe there is only one suspect.

“Early on you kind of formulate and kind of talk about things and really there's only two things that could have happened (to Brisk),” Larsen said. “No. 1, it was a trespasser that came in, or No. 2, this was someone very close to Terry. Those are the only two options that we see.”

Larsen said when the death was first reported the sheriff’s office received many tips, but in the last year it has slowed down where they haven’t received anything.

Larsen said someone has to know something about what happened to Brisk, especially since it happened during daylight hours outdoors. Investigators believe Brisk was shot between 2:26-4:20 p.m. that November day. The man’s body was found on private land that is wooded and contains a gravel pit. The property was used often by family members during deer hunting season, Brisk's mother said shortly after his death.

“There is more to this story and someone’s not talking and we need to put pressure on that person,” Larsen said. “Whoever did this has to have a conscience ... and at some point want to talk to us.”

Members of the public who think they may know something about the case are asked to contact the sheriff’s office at 320-632-9233 or may stay anonymous by contacting Crime Stoppers of Minnesota at its website at CrimeStoppersMn.org ; calling 800-222-8477 (TIPS) from anywhere in Minnesota; installing the “Submit a Tip” application on any smartphone; or by sending a text message beginning with TIP674 to CRIMES (274637).

All contact with Crime Stoppers is anonymous and Larsen said there is an undetermined monetary reward for anyone who provides information that leads to an arrest in this case.

About Terry Brisk

Brisk was a 1993 Little Falls High School graduate. He was married to Pam and they have four children — Johnathon, Nicholas, Frances and Michael — all of whom lived at home at the time of his death.

Brisk worked for his father's construction company, Kingsway Construction Inc., since he was young before working for Ziegler CAT in Brainerd. Brisk enjoyed fishing, hunting, snowmobiling, camping with his family, bonfires with friends, spending time at Platte Lake, cutting wood, 4-H Livestock Legends and 4-H shooting sports.