Second defendant sentenced in Isanti County home invasion homicide

Gerald (a/k/a “Jerold”) Allen Downs sentenced to 366 months in prison for aiding and abetting second-degree intentional murder

August 4, 2025 (SAINT PAUL) — Today, an Isanti County court sentenced Gerald (a/k/a “Jerold”) Allen Downs to 366 months in prison for his role in the December 2023 burglary and murder of Jose De Jesus Diaz Fernandes on a ranch in Spencer Brook Township, Minnesota. Codefendant Fredy Saavedra Olivar was previously convicted after a trial for his role in the same crimes.  Another codefendant, Abraham Alexander Houle, pleaded guilty and is scheduled to be sentenced on September 2, 2025.

On December 12-13, 2023, Downs and two other individuals burglarized a Spencer Brook Township ranch (a purported drug stash house). During the burglary, Downs kicked in the front door while one of Downs’s coconspirators shot and killed Jose Fernandes. Downs then fled with his coconspirators, concealed evidence, and lied to police about the circumstances of the crimes. The burglary turned homicide was coordinated by coconspirator Olivar, who was sentenced in February 2025 for his role in the crimes. One remaining defendant is pending trial.

Attorney General Ellison’s office prosecuted Downs upon a referral from Isanti County Attorney Jeff Edblad under Minnesota Statutes Sec. 8.01, which provides, “Upon request of the county attorney, the attorney general shall appear in court in such criminal cases as the attorney general deems proper.”

“My heart goes out to the Spencer Brook Township community and all those affected by the violence that took place there in December of 2023,” said Attorney General Ellison. “I am grateful to all those who helped bring the perpetrators of that violence to justice. Heinous acts like this tear at the fabric of a community, and when law enforcement turns to my office for help prosecuting those responsible, we are proud to answer the call. I will continue to do everything in my power to seek justice, uphold the rule of law, and defend the safety of Minnesotans.”

The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, the Isanti County Sheriff’s Office, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, the East Central Drug and Violent Offenders Task Force, and the Washington County Drug Task Force investigated these crimes.