Brooklyn Park couple indicted for murder in death of foster daughter

A Hennepin County Grand Jury indicted a Brooklyn Park couple with first-degree murder in the death of their three-year-old foster child, Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman announced Friday.

Sherrie Dirk, 33, and Bryce Dirk, 31, were indicted for first-degree murder while committing child abuse and second-degree murder while committing the underlying felonies of neglect, child endangerment and malicious punishment.

Sherrie Dirk was arrested Thursday evening and is expected to make a first court appearance at 1:30 p.m. today. Bryce Dirk was arrested late Friday morning and his first appearance has not yet been scheduled. Prosecutors will be seeking bail of $2 million on each.

The Dirks are parents to four other children and a petition to terminate parental rights on those children provide some information on what happened to their three-year-old foster daughter.

On Nov. 6, Brooklyn Park Police were called to the Dirks home at 3600 82nd Ave. N. because the child was not breathing about 6:30 p.m. Sometime between 1:30 and 2:30 p.m., Sherrie had wrapped the girl with three sheets and left her in a room with the door closed. No one checked on the child until Bryce went in just before the 911 call, according to the petition to terminate the parental rights. One of the sheets was found around her neck.

The child was found to be severely dehydrated and, since arriving at the Dirks home in September 2016, the girl had lost weight and gone from the 98th percentile in weight to the 13th percentile just weeks before her death.

Brooklyn Park police removed all of the children from the home the night the girl was found dead and placed in protective care. The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office quickly filed a Child in Need Of Protection and Safety (CHIPS) petition so the county could have immediate jurisdiction over the children and keep them in protective care. The CHIPS petition was later amended to a termination of parental rights petition after further investigation by police and Hennepin County Child Protection.

Sherrie Dirk Indictment (PDF)

Bryce Dirk Indictment (PDF)