Minn. Teen Allegedly Kills Parents with Friends' Help
Oct. 12, 2005 — -- In a shocking double slaying at an auto-glass shop in Hastings, Minn., Peter and Patricia Niedere were gunned down. Even more shocking -- the accused killer is their 17-year-old son, Matthew.
Prosecutors say Matthew enlisted the help of two friends, Clayton Keister, 17, and Jamie Patton, 18, luring them with promises of money from his parents' estate.
After a failed attempt on Friday, Matthew Niedere and Keister went to the family's store on Saturday where Matthew shot his parents repeatedly, prosecutors said.
"They were arguing about things, his oversleeping, missing church one morning," said James Backstrom, Washington County district attorney. "Apparently, he had some interest in changing religions and moving to a different church."
Police also say Matthew was angry over being adopted. But his brother, Daniel, said he never saw any sign of that.
"He never mentioned it, ever," Daniel said. "They treated him just like, you know, I mean I was adopted too and they treated us just like their kids."
Their pastor said the Niederes were model friends and parents.
"They were very spiritual people, very gentle people," said the Rev. John Strohschein of Hope Lutheran Church.
He called Matthew "an all-American kid who got along well with his parents and peers."
But police saw a different young man.
After the shootings, they say Matthew went grocery shopping, then to the Mall of America. He then met Keister to go to their homecoming dance before being arrested for murder.
Charges against Matthew Niedere and Keister include four counts of first-degree murder. Patton was charged with two counts of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder. Prosecutors allege that Patton and Keister unsuccessfully tried to kill the Niederes in a staged burglary the night before they died.
Niedere, Keister and Patton are being charged as adults. Minnesota does not have a death penalty.
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