Minnesota
Minnesota women convicted in connection with murder released early from prison because of new change to law
Two women who previously pleaded guilty in connection with the killing of a Minnesota man during an attempt to steal drugs were released from prison last week after their sentences were reduced under a new state that redefines aiding and abetting murder.
Megan Cater and Briana Martinson were charged in the 2017 slaying of Corey Elder, 19, in Bloomington, Fox Minneapolis reported. The killing was motivated by an attempt to steal pills from the victim.
The pair stormed into Elder’s apartment on April 27, 2017, with two others. Cater and Martinson ransacked the home while the other two suspects violently assaulted Elder before fatally shooting him, authorities said.
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Megan Cater, left, and Briana Martinson, right, were released early from prison after being resentenced under a new Minnesota murder law. ( Minnesota Department of Corrections)
The two women were each sentenced to 13.5 years in prison after striking plea deals to avoid life sentences. However, state lawmakers recently redefined laws on aiding and abetting murder, meaning only those who directly commit a murder or directly aided a killing can be charged with the crime.
The new law can be applied retroactively to those already in prison.
Cater and Martinson were resentenced on lesser aiding and abetting first-degree burglary crimes after Elder’s family provided a victim impact statement to the court. Cater received more than 5 years. She had already served more than six years.
Martinson’s sentence was reduced to nearly five years after having served more than six years. Both women were released from prison that day. They were originally scheduled to be released in the fall of 2026.
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“We are grateful Megan Cater has been given this second chance by Minnesota legislators to reenter society,” said Cater’s attorney, JaneAnne Murray. “There are too many people serving lengthy sentences in Minnesota’s prisons that do not reflect their minor and less culpable roles in their offenses.”
Martinson’s attorney, Bradford Colbert, said that while her client “did not play a role in the tragic death that occurred, she understands the gravity of the loss and the trauma that night caused for so many.”
Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty, whose office supported the petition for resentencing, told the news outlet that the new law is an effort to ensure major participants of a murder face the most harsh consequences.
“We’re not talking about people who are innocent of everything. We’re recognizing exactly the role that they played,” she said. “The court makes the final decision and in this case the court chose to re-sentence these women for what they actually did.”
Bobbie Elder, Corey’s mother said the family believes the criminal justice system has let their son down.
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“Although this change in law has its time and place for being warranted, this case is not one of them. Megan Cater and Brianna Martinson were the masterminds behind the events that led up to my son, Corey Elder’s, murder,” she said. “
“They were the ones that had and arranged the entire plan, including ensuring there was a gun present,” she added. “They have convinced themselves and their families as a false narrative that paints them as victims, which is the opposite of the facts.”
In total, six people were convicted in connection with Elder’s murder.
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The Minnesota Timberwolves have dodged a serious blow to star guard Anthony Edwards, but his status for the rest of the NBA playoffs remains in question.
Medical imaging tests revealed that Edwards, the NBA’s third-leading scorer this season, suffered a bone bruise and hyperextension in his left knee on Saturday, April 25, in Game 4 of Minnesota’s first-round playoff series against the Nuggets.
The results were first reported by ESPN.
Although sources tell the network Edwards is expected to be sidelined multiple weeks, he did avoid a more serious ligament injury that would’ve ended his postseason.
The news comes as the No. 6-seeded Timberwolves have taken a commanding 3-1 series lead in the first round over the No. 3 Denver Nuggets. The Timberwolves are also dealing with depth concerns in the backcourt, after guard Donte DiVincenzo suffered a torn right Achilles tendon one quarter before Edwards sustained his injury.
The Timberwolves have ramped up their defense and are playing their best basketball of the season. After making consecutive trips to the Western Conference Finals, Minnesota is looking to break through this season with its first NBA Finals appearance in franchise history. Although the Western Conference is stacked with talented teams, the Timberwolves have been very impressive to open the 2026 playoffs. To pose a legitimate threat, however, they will need Edwards to be healthy, especially now that DiVincenzo will be out indefinitely.
Anthony Edwards’ injury in Game 4
The injury ocurred with 2:45 left in the first half, when Edwards jumped vertically to defend a Cameron Johnson layup during a fastbreak drive. When Edwards landed, his left knee appeared to hyperextend as his weight came down, and he immediately grabbed at the area, writhing in apparent discomfort. Edwards slapped the court a few times in obvious frustration.
Athletic trainers rushed over as Edwards popped up to his feet. The trainers helped Edwards hobble off the floor, as he did not put any weight on the injured leg.
The trainers helped him toward the tunnel, though they didn’t immediately usher Edwards to the locker room, momentarily examining him in the tunnel.
After Minnesota’s 112-96 victory in Game 4, Timberwolves coach Chris Finch didn’t have any updates on the severity of Edwards’ injury, noting that he was being evaluated.
“I saw Ant (at halftime) and kind of dapped him up,” Timberwolves forward Julius Randle said after Saturday’s game. “There’s not much to say in those moments. I’ll give him a call tonight, or a text and just check up on him.”
In 61 games this season, Edwards averaged a career-high 28.8 points (which ranked third in the NBA behind only Luka Dončić and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander), 5.0 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game. His field goal percentage (48.9%) and 3-point percentage (39.9%) were also career bests.
In February, he was selected to his fourth consecutive All-Star team.
Contributing: Steve Gardner
Minnesota Timberwolves lose key contributor for rest of playoffs due to major injury originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The good news for the Minnesota Timberwolves is that they were able to pull out a 112-96 victory over the Denver Nuggets on Saturday night to take a 3-1 lead in the first-round series between the teams.
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The bad news for the Wolves is that they lost a key contributor in the process.
Donte DiVincenzo out for rest of playoffs after suffering torn Achilles
Starting guard Donte DiVincenzo suffered a torn Achilles tendon in Game 4, and he’ll miss the rest of the postseason as a result. He’ll also miss a huge chunk, if not all, of the 2026-27 NBA season as a result of the injury.
It’s an extremely unfortunate break for a guy who was extremely durable for Minnesota during the regular season. DiVincenzo was so durable, in fact, that he started in all 82 games for the Wolves over the course of the campaign.
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In addition to DiVincenzo, the Timberwolves also lost star guard Anthony Edwards during their Game 4 victory. Edwards exited the game with an apparent knee injury and never returned. He’s set to undergo testing on the knee, and his status moving forward is in question at this point. An update on Edwards should be provided in short order.
With DiVincenzo, and possibly Edwards, sidelined for the foreseeable future, guys like Ayo Dosunmu and Bones Hyland will likely see their roles increase exponentially.
The Wolves need just one more win to eliminate Denver and advance to the Western Conference semifinals where they would meet the winner of the series between the San Antonio Spurs and Portland Trail Blazers.
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The Minnesota Timberwolves have a chance to put their foot on the Denver Nuggets’ throat when they host Game 4 Saturday in the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at the Target Center at 8:30 p.m. ET. Minnesota beat the brakes off Denver 113-96 in Game 3 Thursday to take a 2-1 series lead.
Now, both teams have -110 odds to win this series at DraftKings. The T-Wolves are slight home underdogs — +1.5 on the spread and +102 on the money line — and the total is 229.5.
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In an unexpected twist, the Timberwolves have made Nuggets’ three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic seem mortal. Although Jokic is still getting his numbers, he’s been less efficient. The Joker is shooting just 40.0% from the field and 20.8% from behind the arc with a -6 net rating.
Minnesota Timberwolves C Rudy Gobert contests a jumper by Denver Nuggets C Nikola Jokic during Game 2 of their first-round series in the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Ball Arena in Colorado. (Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images)
Denver’s other major concern is the health of its only good defensive player, forward Aaron Gordon, who missed Game 3 and is “questionable” for Saturday. Even if Gordon plays Game 4, how effective will he be? And does it matter anyway? That’s what I’m here to discuss.
Best Bet: Minnesota Timberwolves +102 moneyline, up to -120
I’m expecting a Jokic bounce-back game Saturday. He’s just too good. Nikola has averaged a triple-double in three of his last four NBA playoffs, and he usually balls up T-Wolves C Rudy Gobert.
However, this is a bad matchup for the Nuggets because they need PG Jamal Murray to play like an All-Star, and the Timberwolves have two of the best perimeter defenders in the NBA, Anthony Edwards and Jaden McDaniels.
Denver Nuggets PG Jamal Murray drives to the paint on Minnesota Timberwolves SG Anthony Edwards in Game 3 in the first round of the 2026 Western Conference Playoffs. (Abbie Parr/AP)
Murray is averaging 25.3 points per game in this series, but he is shooting 35.9% from the field and 22.2% from 3-point range. That’s just not going to cut it. And it won’t get easier for him either because McDaniels is picking Murray up full-court.
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Meanwhile, with or without Gordon, Denver has a terrible defense. Sure, having Jokic gives the Nuggets a chance to beat anyone, but you can’t win a title with the 21st-ranked defensive efficiency in the Association.
Also, Minnesota is one of the best 3-point shooting teams in the NBA, and role players shoot better at home. The T-Wolves are sixth in 3-point shooting percentage and allow the fewest 3-pointers per game on defense.
Minnesota Timberwolves All-Star Anthony Edwards shoots over Denver Nuggets PG Jamal Murray in Game 3 of their first-round NBA playoff series at Target Center in Minneapolis. (Abbie Parr/AP)
Lastly, this will be a contrarian bet with the public most likely backing Denver because people will think, “The Nuggets won’t go down 3-1 in this series. They are the better team with the best player in the world.”
Well, I’m here to tell you those people are wrong, and the Timberwolves are winning Game 4.
Prediction: Timberwolves 117, Nuggets 110
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Follow me on X @Geoffery-Clark, and check out my OutKick Bets Podcast for more betting content and random rants.
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