Bemidji brothers sentenced for beating death of younger brother

BEMIDJI — Two brothers were sentenced earlier this month for their roles in the August 2023 beating death of their younger brother in Bemidji.

Court records indicate Daniel Eason, 37, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in December 2024 and was sentenced to more than 13 years in the St. Cloud prison on Jan. 7, with credit for more than a year served.

Joseph Eason, 42, pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting after the fact last May and was sentenced to more than five years in prison on Jan. 2, also with credit for time served.

The amended criminal complaints stated the elder Eason blacked out while watching a preseason Vikings game and did not remember the assault. The younger Eason told investigators that four unknown assailants arrived at the home on Minnesota Avenue, and he left with his older half-brother to avoid the fight, leaving Jared Eason alone with the unknown assailants.

Investigators did not find evidence of any other people in the house, with blood samples collected from clothing found at the residence matching Joseph, Daniel and the deceased brother, 31-year-old Jared Eason. The complaints stated that Joseph and Jared had a history of brawling with each other.