Husband held in death of woman

Editor’s note: Because of a production error, several paragraphs were missing in this story that ran in the Dec. 17 issue of the Pine Knot News. We are reprinting it in whole here.

A Kettle River woman was allegedly shot and killed by her husband Friday, Dec. 10.

Raymond Arthur Julian, 65, allegedly told police he killed his wife, Tracy Ellen Julian, 62, when they came to his house Friday. Raymond made his first appearance in Sixth District Carlton County Court Dec. 13 on charges of murder in the second degree, with intent-not premeditated. Bail was set at $1 million.

Carlton County County 911 dispatch received a call at 2:35 p.m. Friday, Dec. 10, requesting a welfare check on two individuals living at 3665 Heiskari Road in Kalevala Township, not far from the city of Kettle River.

According to the criminal complaint, the caller said they had received an email from Raymond Julian, stating that he planned to kill his wife. Based on the call and hearing the contents of the email, deputies responded to the residence for a welfare check.

When the first deputy arrived on scene, he walked up the driveway and observed a male, ultimately identified as Raymond Julian, exit a door to a pole building adjacent to the residence. The deputy said hello and the male turned around and re-entered the building. When the deputy walked up to the open door, Raymond Julian reappeared and greeted the deputy, who told him that he was there to check on him and his wife.

Raymond Julian told the deputy that he was well, but his wife was ill and in bed and he would rather the deputy not check on her. When the deputy told Julian they weren’t in any trouble, Raymond Julian then allegedly stated, “That’s the problem, you’re going to have to arrest me,” eventually adding that his wife was dead: “She’s in the bed. I killed her.”

When the deputy asked if there was any chance his wife was still alive, he responded, “No.” He was detained and the deputies called for medical assistance.

Deputies entered the pole building, which had been partially finished, to look for Tracy Julian and determine if she needed medical assistance. Upon entering what appeared to be a living area, they observed a Tracy Julian, obviously deceased, on a bed. Although autopsy results were pending when the criminal complaint was issued, it appeared she died from two gunshot wounds: one to the chest and one to the head.

Raymond Julian was transported to the hospital after making statements about hurting himself. The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension then responded to the scene and searched the residence.

The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and the Midwest Medical Examiner’s Office are assisting the Sheriff’s Office in the ongoing investigation. No other suspects are being sought in this incident, and there is no danger to the public.

Raymond Julian’s next court hearing is set for Dec. 27.