A final text message from Kristen Ann Brown, sent just before she was killed by her husband in a Minnesota daycare, suggested she was planning to leave him, a friend has revealed. The message indicated that Brown Bear Childcare, the daycare they operated out of their Hopkins home, would be closing on August 27.
Authorities discovered the bodies of Kristen Brown, 41, her 7-year-old daughter Evie Ann Brown, and her husband Nathan Brown, 41, inside the daycare center around 9 a.m. on Wednesday. Police believe Nathan Brown, a landscaper, carried out the murder-suicide, fatally stabbing his wife and daughter before taking his own life. Six other children who were at the daycare were evacuated safely and without injury.
Kristen had texted a friend at approximately 8:45 a.m. on Wednesday, stating that "things were crazy." The friend, whose child had attended the daycare for six years, told FOX9 that Kristen had hinted at potential ongoing abuse and that something seemed "off" within the family. The decision to close the daycare was reportedly due to Nathan Brown owning the home where it operated, and Kristen's imminent departure.
On Thursday, authorities confirmed that Nathan Brown had also killed his 78-year-old mother, Alice Anne Brown, at her home in Burnsville. Police stated that Nathan Brown is believed to have been living with his mother at the time of her death.
Kristen Brown, originally from South Dakota, had a long-standing passion for working with children. She graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2010 with a bachelor's degree in elementary education foundations. She began babysitting at age 10 and later worked in her mother's family childcare center. After having her own daughter, Evie, in 2019, Kristen opened Brown Bear Childcare, aiming to help children "blossom into happy, intelligent, caring individuals."
The daycare offered a well-rounded experience for its young students, incorporating activities, play, language development, motor skills, curiosity, and problem-solving. Weekly music and cooking classes, along with quarterly field trips, were also part of the curriculum. Kristen often shared photos of the children, including those in graduation caps, expressing her pride in their growth and wishing them well in their future endeavors.
Details about Nathan Brown's background were less public. His social media profile indicated he was from Saint Louis Park and ran a landscaping and snow removal business called Nathan’s Outdoor Services.
Authorities were alerted to the incident when a parent arrived to drop off their child at the daycare. Hopkins Police Chief Brent Johnson confirmed that at least one parent witnessed the aftermath of the event.
Police are continuing their investigation into the specific weapons used in the killings. No official motive has been publicly disclosed. 
