On the evening of November 17, 1973, 15-year-old Michael Hadrath went to a campfire with four friends at Gitchie Manitou State Preserve, just across the border from Sioux Falls, South Dakota. A group of three brothers — David, Allen, and James Fryer — encountered the teenagers while in the park to poach deer. Believing the teens were smoking marijuana, the brothers opened fire from a ridge. Roger Essem was killed at the scene and Stewart Baade was wounded.

After the attack the Fryers posed as law enforcement to gather the scattered youths. Michael Hadrath and Sandra Cheskey came out together; Hadrath was shot in the arm. The Fryers then marched Hadrath, Stewart Baade and Dana Baade away from the campsite and the two remaining brothers shot and killed all three boys. Their bodies were found the next day. Sandra Cheskey, taken elsewhere and assaulted, escaped and gave testimony that led to arrests.

David, Allen, and James Fryer were arrested and later convicted for their roles; the brothers received life sentences under differing counts and plea arrangements.