Kristen Brown of Hopkins, Minnesota, died on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, in a tragic incident at Brown Bear Childcare, the home daycare she operated in Hopkins. Police responding to the residence found three deceased people, including two adults and a young child. Authorities said the victims were believed to be members of the same family and that one adult male was believed to have been responsible for the deaths of the other two people before taking his own life. The incident is being investigated as a possible murder-suicide. Kristen Brown was identified in the information provided as the owner of Brown Bear Childcare, which operated as a family child-care business from the home.
Kristen Brown, owner of Brown Bear Childcare in Hopkins, Minnesota, died on August 12, 2026, in a fatal incident at the daycare residence. Her cause of death was fatal stabbing injuries. Three family members, including two adults and a young child, were found dead. Authorities believe an adult male was responsible for the deaths before also dying. The investigation remains ongoing, and officials have not released a complete account of the circumstances.
Kristen Brown Hopkins MN Death
The incident happened Wednesday morning at Brown Bear Childcare, a residence-based daycare in Hopkins, approximately 15 miles southwest of Minneapolis.
According to the information provided, Hopkins police were notified after a parent arrived at the daycare to drop off their child.
Officers subsequently entered the home shortly after 9 a.m. and discovered three people deceased.
Police said the victims included two adults and a young child. The victims were believed to be members of the same family.
Hopkins Police Chief Brent Johnston described the scene as particularly disturbing and said it was the type of incident that could remain with investigators throughout their careers.
Brown Bear Childcare Owner Kristen Brown
Kristen Brown was the owner of Brown Bear Childcare, a family child-care operation in Hopkins.
Information provided about the business indicates that Brown registered the daycare in February 2019. The business was classified as a family child-care operation and had an active license that was renewed in January 2026.
Brown’s professional background was centered around working with children.
In her own biography, she explained that her interest in child care began when she was a child herself. She started babysitting at age 10 and later worked in her mother’s family child-care centre.
She went on to work in infant and toddler classrooms, operate a home daycare in South Dakota and work as a nanny.
Kristen Brown’s Education and Career
Brown graduated from the University of Minnesota–Twin Cities in 2010 with a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education Foundations. She also earned a minor in Speech, Language, Hearing Sciences.
Before opening Brown Bear Childcare, she worked for several years as a Certified Optometric Vision Therapist.
That work involved children and adults and included areas such as reading and learning skills, memory, gross motor development and hand-eye coordination.
Her experience eventually brought her back to child care.
Brown wrote that after having her own child in October 2018, she wanted to return to child care so she could be at home with her daughter.
Brown Bear Daycare in Hopkins
Brown Bear Childcare was operated as an in-home family daycare at the family’s residence.
According to the information provided, the daycare was located at 236 Tyler Avenue North in Hopkins.
Police Chief Brent Johnston said approximately seven children were at the daycare on Wednesday and indicated that the children were all under the age of five.
Authorities said the incident was isolated and that there was no continuing threat to the broader community.
Brown Bear Childcare Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Business | Brown Bear Childcare |
| Owner | Kristen Brown |
| Type | Family Child Care |
| Location | Hopkins, Minnesota |
| Address reported | 236 Tyler Avenue North |
| Business registration | February 1, 2019 |
| License number | 109763 |
| License status | Active, according to provided information |
| Last renewal | January 1, 2026 |
What Happened to Kristen Brown?
Police believe one of the adult men found at the residence was responsible for the deaths of the other two victims.
The information provided identifies Michael Hunt as Kristen Brown’s husband and partner in operating the daycare.
Authorities believe the male victim may have killed the woman and child before taking his own life. The incident is therefore being investigated as a potential murder-suicide.
However, the investigation is still underway, and officials have not released every detail surrounding the deaths.
It is important to distinguish between the preliminary information about the suspected sequence of events and the final findings of investigators.
Kristen Brown’s Husband Michael Hunt
According to the information provided, Kristen Brown operated Brown Bear Childcare with her husband, Michael Hunt.
Residents familiar with the daycare reportedly knew the couple as the people running the family child-care operation.
Authorities have not provided a complete public account of the relationship or events that preceded Wednesday morning’s deaths.
The investigation is expected to establish the circumstances that led to the tragedy.
Child Also Found Dead at Brown Bear Childcare
A young child was among the three people found dead inside the residence.
Police have not publicly identified the child in the information provided.
Chief Johnston said he did not know the child’s exact age but indicated that the children attending the daycare that day were under five years old.
The child’s death adds another devastating dimension to the tragedy, which has shocked the Hopkins community.
Hopkins Community Reacts to Tragedy
The deaths have deeply affected the local community, particularly families connected to Brown Bear Childcare.
Home daycares often develop close relationships with families because children spend significant portions of their early years with their caregivers.
Brown’s own biography reflected her long-standing commitment to working with children. She described child care as a rewarding experience and said she wanted to help children grow into happy, intelligent and caring individuals.
Her death has therefore left questions and grief among people who knew her personally and through her work.
Investigation Into Brown Bear Childcare Deaths
Hopkins police continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
Authorities have said the incident appears to have been isolated and have been working to determine exactly what happened inside the residence.
Investigators are also expected to examine the evidence from the scene and determine the precise circumstances and manner of death for each victim.
Because the investigation is ongoing, additional information may be released as authorities complete their work.
Kristen Brown Obituary and Memorial Information
Kristen Brown’s death on August 12, 2026, represents a heartbreaking loss for her family, friends and the children and families who knew her through Brown Bear Childcare.
She devoted much of her life to working with children, beginning with babysitting as a young girl and later building a career in education, child development and vision therapy.
Her decision to establish Brown Bear Childcare was closely connected to her desire to care for her own daughter while continuing the work she had loved throughout her life.
Funeral and memorial arrangements were not included in the information provided for this report. Details can be added when officially announced by the family.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Kristen Brown?
Kristen Brown was the owner of Brown Bear Childcare, a family daycare in Hopkins, Minnesota. She had a background in early childhood care, education and optometric vision therapy.
When did Kristen Brown die?
Kristen Brown died on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, according to the information provided.
What happened at Brown Bear Childcare?
Police found three people deceased inside the home where Brown Bear Childcare operated. The victims were two adults and a young child believed to be members of the same family.
Was Kristen Brown murdered?
Authorities are investigating the deaths as a potential murder-suicide. The information provided says police believe an adult male was responsible for the deaths of the other two victims before dying himself.
Who was Michael Hunt?
Michael Hunt was identified in the information provided as Kristen Brown’s husband and partner in operating Brown Bear Childcare.
Where was Brown Bear Childcare located?
The daycare was a home-based family child-care business in Hopkins, Minnesota. The information provided lists its address as 236 Tyler Avenue North.