On the morning of May 20, 2022, six-year-old Eli Hart was shot multiple times with a shotgun by his biological mother, Julissa Thaler, while strapped into his car seat. The day before, Thaler had visited a sporting goods store asking for ammunition that would "blow the biggest hole into something." After killing Eli, Thaler stuffed his body into the trunk of her car. Later that day, Orono police stopped Thaler's vehicle after a caller reported a car with a shattered rear window and blown-out tire. Officers discovered blood inside the car and Eli's body in the trunk; his car seat was found in a nearby dumpster riddled with shotgun holes. Eli had been returned to Thaler's custody following a prolonged child protection case during which she exhibited severe mental illness, substance abuse, and repeated dishonesty with caseworkers. Despite numerous red flags and warnings from foster parents, the child's father, teachers, and other caregivers, Dakota County closed the child protection case just 10 days before his murder. Thaler was convicted of premeditated first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison without parole.
Contexts/Conditions
Is there any mention of child drug ingestion or overdose?
Is there any mention of a drowning incident (either intentional or accidental)?
Is there any mention of a firearm incident?
The vital record (2022-MN-020452.pdf) states the cause of death was "Multiple Shotgun Wounds." The KARE 11 investigative article states: "Julissa Thaler pointed a shotgun at 6-year-old Eli Hart as her helpless son faced her, strapped into his car seat. She repeatedly fired." The article also notes that the day before the murder, "Thaler walked around a sporting goods store asking for shells that would 'blow the biggest hole into something.'"
Is there any mention of inappropriate supervision (e.g., child wandered off and drowned)?
The KARE 11 investigative article states: "Social workers found Eli home alone with cuts, matted hair and without his hearing aids." Being left home alone at approximately five years old constitutes inappropriate supervision.
Is there any mention of inflicted injury? (e.g. slapped, punched, kicked, choked)
The vital record (2022-MN-020452.pdf) states the cause of death was "Multiple Shotgun Wounds" and the injury description is "Decedent Was Shot By Another Person(S)." The KARE 11 investigative article states Thaler "pointed a shotgun at 6-year-old Eli Hart" and "repeatedly fired." Additionally, prior to the fatal incident, the article describes Eli telling a teacher "his mom pushes him," and another report where Eli said "My mom was hurting me."
Is there any mention of malnutrition, starvation, or dehydration?
Is there any mention of medical neglect?
The KARE 11 investigative article states that Eli was born with Townes-Brocks syndrome and "would need hearing aids for the rest of his life, and then routine appointments with specialists to monitor the impacts of the syndrome." It later states: "Social workers found Eli home alone with cuts, matted hair and without his hearing aids." The court case plan required Thaler to "Meet his medical needs," implying this was a recognized deficiency. Together these details indicate medical neglect of a child with significant medical needs.
Is there any mention of a motor vehicle crash or incident?
Is there any mention of a murder-suicide incident?
Is there any mention of outdoor elements (including hot car deaths)?
Is there any mention of prenatal substance exposure (including fetal alcohol syndrome or neonatal abstinence syndrome)?
The KARE 11 investigative article states: "in December 2015, child protection got its first report about Thaler. She was suspected of exposing Eli to drugs before she gave birth to him." This is an explicit reference to prenatal substance exposure.
Is there any mention of sexual abuse?
Is there any specific mention of shaken baby or abusive head trauma?
Is there any mention of prolonged abuse or torture (including restraints, captivity)?
Is there any mention of an unsafe sleeping environment?
Individuals Involved
Was an adoptive parent or guardian involved in the death?
Was a biological father involved in the death?
Was a biological mother involved in the death?
The biological mother, Julissa Thaler, was the perpetrator. The KARE 11 investigative article states: "Julissa Thaler pointed a shotgun at 6-year-old Eli Hart as her helpless son faced her, strapped into his car seat. She repeatedly fired." The CBS article confirms: "An online jail roster in Hennepin County shows Hart's biological mother, Julissa Thaler, was arrested by Orono police early Saturday morning on pending murder charges." The settlement article confirms she was "found guilty in 2023 of one count each of premeditated first-degree murder and second-degree murder."
Was a day care worker, babysitter, or nanny involved in the death?
Was a female paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., girlfriend, stepmother)?
Was a foster parent involved in the death?
Was a male paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., boyfriend, stepfather)?
Was another adult relative involved in the death? (e.g., grandfather, aunt)
Was a sibling involved in the death?
Child Characteristics
Was the child adopted?
Was the child homeschooled (including "cyberschooling") or taken out of school?
Was the child in foster care at the time of the incident?
Was the child living with relatives at the time of the incident (but not parents)?
Is there any mention of a neurological developmental child disability? (e.g., autism, intellectual disability, nonverbal)
Is there any mention of a physical child disability? (e.g., feeding tube)
The KARE 11 investigative article states: "Eli was born with Townes-Brocks syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that can cause abnormalities in body organs. He would need hearing aids for the rest of his life, and then routine appointments with specialists to monitor the impacts of the syndrome as he continued to grow." The disability memorial page also lists "Townes-Brock syndrome" as his disability. Requiring hearing aids and specialist monitoring for organ abnormalities constitutes a physical disability.
Is there any mention of prematurity or low birthweight?
Is there a history of child protection reports prior to death (for this child or siblings)?
The KARE 11 investigative article documents an extensive history of child protection reports. The first CPS report came in December 2015 regarding prenatal drug exposure. Subsequent reports involved Rice County and Dakota County. The article notes that Dakota County had just closed a child protection case 10 days before the murder, and states: "abuse and neglect reports continued to flood into the county" while Eli was on his trial home visit. The Safe Passages report found Eli was "one of 88 Minnesota children who died from maltreatment since 2014. In 59 of those cases, there was a prior history with child protection."
Does the child have a history of foster care (but not in care at time of incident)?
The KARE 11 investigative article details that Eli was placed into foster care with the Kronberg family in January 2021. He was returned to his mother on a Trial Home Visit in December 2021, and the child protection case was closed on May 10, 2022, giving Thaler full custody. The murder occurred on May 20, 2022, 10 days after the case was closed. Thus Eli had a history of foster care but was not in foster care at the time of his death.
Is there a history of a sibling death (separate incident from this death)?
Parent/Caregiver Factors
Was an adult charged or arrested for the child's death?
The CBS article states: "An online jail roster in Hennepin County shows Hart's biological mother, Julissa Thaler, was arrested by Orono police early Saturday morning on pending murder charges." The FOX 9 article confirms: "His mom, Julissa Angelica Genrich Thaler, 28, of Spring Park, has been charged with murder in his death." The KARE 11 settlement article confirms: "Thaler was found guilty in 2023 of one count each of premeditated first-degree murder and second-degree murder. She automatically received a life sentence without parole."
Is domestic violence by the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is there any mention that the death occurred in a temporary shelter or while homeless?
Is an intellectual disability of the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is the mental health of the parent/caregiver referenced?
Mental health of the parent/caregiver is a central theme throughout the documents. The KARE 11 investigative article states: "She was diagnosed with at least two personality disorders." It documents repeated mental health breakdowns, delusional behavior ("fearing that a bug was trying to attack her son"), hallucinations ("heard voices telling her to kill herself"), and chronic instability. Caseworker Dehner wrote: "She's so mentally ill." The CBS article also references Thaler's "mental health" concerns, and court documents showed "concerns about Thaler's mental health, living situation and criminal history."
Is a history of arrests or criminal charges for the parent/caregiver referenced?
The KARE 11 investigative article states: "In late April records show she was arrested after allegedly stealing pain meds and needles from an Apple Valley clinic." This occurred in April 2021, well before the May 2022 murder. The CBS article also references concerns about Thaler's "criminal history." Additionally, the article notes she was "kicked out of drug testing for being too disruptive" in November 2021 and that she "committed crimes" during the CPS case.
Is substance use by the parent/caregiver referenced?
The KARE 11 investigative article extensively documents Thaler's substance use history: "Thaler began drinking at age 13... She abused opiates at 16 and sedatives at 20... she used LSD 'on a daily basis'... Thaler missed or tampered with drug tests. In late April records show she was arrested after allegedly stealing pain meds and needles from an Apple Valley clinic." The CBS article also references her "drug addiction." The court case plan required her to "Remain drug-free and submit to random testing."
Notable Details
The KARE 11 investigative article documents extensive systemic failures by Dakota County Child Protection Services. Key details include: (1) A state-mandated one-year reunification deadline that pressured officials to return Eli to his mother despite ongoing concerns; (2) A legal catch-22 where state law required child protection cases to take precedence over custody petitions, meaning Tory Hart's custody petition was put on hold until the CPS case closed; (3) The caseworker Beth Dehner and assistant county attorney Jennifer Jackson recommended closing the case despite extensive red flags, overriding the Guardian ad Litem's objections; (4) Dehner removed Thaler from drug testing after only two months of clean results despite a decade-long substance abuse history; (5) Both Dehner and the Guardian filed recommendations to close the case without updating the court about Amy Horn's concerning observations of Eli just days before; (6) The case was closed May 10, just 10 days before the murder; (7) A national expert called it "one of the most shocking failures of child protection I've seen in many decades"; (8) A federal wrongful death lawsuit resulted in a $2.25 million settlement by Dakota County; and (9) A Safe Passages for Children report identified Eli as one of 88 Minnesota children who died from maltreatment since 2014, with 59 having prior child protection history, pointing to systemic rather than isolated failures.
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