UPDATE: Two Found Dead Inside Prior Lake Home Identified; Investigation Ongoing
Published: May 2nd 2026 | Last Updated: May 5, 2026 at 3:30 pm.
UPDATE: Authorities have identified the two individuals found deceased inside a Prior Lake home over the weekend, as investigators continue working to determine the circumstances surrounding their deaths.
According to an update from the Prior Lake Police Department, the individuals have been identified as 35-year-old William Smith and 34-year-old Laura Smith. The two were discovered Saturday morning, May 2, inside a residence near Spruce Trail and Spruce Circle in Prior Lake.
Original Response and Discovery
Police were initially dispatched to the home around 9:00 a.m. on May 2, 2026, for a welfare check. During that response, officers determined they needed to enter the residence. Once inside, they located both individuals deceased in a bedroom.
At the time, authorities withheld their identities pending notification of family members.
Ongoing Investigation
The case remains under active investigation by the Prior Lake Police Department with assistance from the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.
Officials have emphasized that:
There is no ongoing threat to the public
No suspect is being sought in connection with the incident
At this stage, investigators have not released details regarding what may have led to the deaths. Authorities say no further updates are expected until the Hennepin County Medical Examiner's Office completes its examination and determines the official cause and manner of death.
What Comes Next
As is standard in cases of unexplained or unattended deaths, the medical examiner’s findings will play a key role in determining whether the deaths were due to natural causes, accident, suicide, or other circumstances.
Officials are asking for patience as the investigation continues and have not provided a timeline for when results may be released.
ORIGINAL STORY - PRIOR LAKE, MN: Two people were found dead inside a Prior Lake home Saturday morning after police responded to a welfare check, according to a press release from the Prior Lake Police Department.
Officers were dispatched around 9 a.m. to a residence near Spruce Trail and Spruce Circle. During the response, officers determined they needed to enter the home. Inside a bedroom, officers located a 35-year-old man and a 34-year-old woman deceased.
Authorities said the identities of both individuals are being withheld pending notification of family members.
The Prior Lake Police Department is investigating the incident with assistance from the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA). Officials stated there is no ongoing threat to the public.
No additional details have been released at this time.
