Winthrop Man Sentenced to Over 30 Years for Second-Degree Murder

GAYLORD, Minn. – A Winthrop resident has been sentenced to prison following his conviction for second-degree murder.

Travis Bauer, 48, received a 30.5-year prison sentence after a Sibley County jury found him guilty in October. The case stems from the September 2022 shooting death of Dennis Weitzenkamp.

Weitzenkamp was discovered with a fatal gunshot wound to the back of his head. According to court records, Bauer and Weitzenkamp worked together daily on a farm near Winthrop.

Investigators reported inconsistencies in Bauer’s statements and later found gunshot residue on his clothing, which contributed to his conviction.