Man Gets 7 Years For Suicide Attempt That Would Have Killed Young Sons
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – A Dakota County man was sentenced to more than seven years in prison for an attempted suicide last year that would have resulted in the deaths of his young sons.
Jay Ernst, of Lakeville, pleaded guilty in July to two counts of attempted murder in the first degree. Last month, a judge sentenced Ernst to 86 months in prison, with credit for 324 days served.
Last October, the now 28-year-old was arrested after an Amber Alert was issued for his two sons. Ernst's family had called police after the father was found running his car inside his closed garage with his children inside the vehicle.
Prior to the suicide attempt, his relatives reported that Ernst had made suicidal statements.
