Man Pleads Guilty To Trying To Kill Young Sons In Suicide
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – Court officials in Dakota County say a 28-year-old father pleaded guilty Monday to two counts of attempted murder for a suicide attempt last year that would have resulted in the deaths of his young sons.
Jay Ernst, of Lakeville, tried to kill himself late last October by running his car inside a closed garage. Authorities say his sons, then ages 2 and 4, were also inside the car, which had a garden hose running from the tailpipe and into a window.
A member of his family, which had reported that Ernst had made suicidal statements prior to the attempt, found him and pulled the hose from the car window. Ernst then drove out of the garage with his sons.
An amber alert was issued after the family member called police. Ernst was found on Interstate 35E and arrested.
On Monday, he pleaded guilty to two counts of attempted murder in the first degree, the Dakota County Attorney's Office said.
Ernst is slated to be sentenced on Sept. 16.
