Lawrence Scully (77) of Grand Marais, MN died following a brief altercation with Levi Axtell (27) at Scully’s home in Grand Marais in the late afternoon of Wednesday, March 8, 2023, according to multiple news sources. Axtell is alleged to have beaten Scully on the head with a shovel he had picked up from Scully’s deck before entering the house. He’s also alleged to have hit Scully with a moose antler.
Axtell, also of Grand Marais, reportedly drove from Scully’s house to the Cook County Law Enforcement Center and turned himself in immediately following the altercation. He has been charged with second-degree murder in the case and his bail has been set at $1 million by Judge Michael Cuzzo. He was remanded to the custody of the Cook County Sheriff’s office. Axtell’s next court appearance is set for April 10, 2023.
According to court records, Scully had pleaded guilty to criminal sexual conduct in June of 1979 after he’d molested a six-year-old girl. He was sentenced later that year to serve 0-5 years. Entering prison October 30, 1979, he was released on December 31, 1981.
According to the MN Secretary of State website, in 2014 Scully filed for election to run for mayor of Grand Marais. He managed to get 42 votes out of the 600 votes cast that November.
In 2018, Axtell sought a protection order from the court to keep Scully away from his 22-month-old daughter. The order was granted, but then rescinded by the court several weeks later.
Scully has been alleged to have stalked Axtell and his daughter since 2018, but investigators have not revealed what event(s) immediately preceded the March 8 killing.
