20/20 Tonight

Who Were Bart and Krista Halderson & What Happened to Them? 2026 Update & Profile

by · June 25, 2026

Before their names became associated with one of Wisconsin’s most shocking murder cases, Bart and Krista Halderson were known to family, friends and colleagues as devoted parents who had built a comfortable life together in Windsor, Wisconsin. Their deaths in July 2021 devastated those who knew them and transformed an ordinary suburban family into the focus of a nationally followed criminal investigation.

ABC’s 20/20 revisits their story in Road Map to Murder, examining not only the investigation that led to their son Chandler Halderson’s conviction, but also the lives of the two people whose murders left a lasting impact on their family and community.

Building a Life Together

Bart A. Halderson and Krista Rae Halderson had spent years building a stable home in Windsor, a village just north of Madison in Dane County, Wisconsin. Together they raised two sons, Mitchell and Chandler, and were regarded as a close family by many who knew them.

The couple lived in a well-kept suburban home where family gatherings and everyday routines reflected a quiet middle-class lifestyle. Friends described Bart and Krista as supportive parents who wanted their children to succeed and were willing to provide financial and emotional support as they entered adulthood.

Their oldest son, Mitchell, had established a successful career in the technology industry and was engaged to be married. Chandler, their younger son, continued living at home while telling his parents he was completing college and preparing for a career in information technology.

Bart Halderson: A Practical Father

Bart Halderson worked in the technology field and was known among family and colleagues as analytical, practical and careful with money. Investigators later noted that his financial habits made some of Chandler’s explanations about his disappearance immediately seem unusual.

According to detectives, Bart was not someone who made spontaneous trips or gambled frequently, making Chandler’s initial claim that his parents may have travelled to a casino appear inconsistent with his father’s personality. Friends described Bart as someone who preferred planning ahead and paying close attention to details.

As Chandler’s stories about school and future employment became increasingly difficult to verify, Bart began asking more questions. Prosecutors argued that his persistence in seeking proof of Chandler’s education ultimately placed him on a path toward discovering years of deception.

Krista Halderson: A Devoted Mother

Krista Halderson was remembered by relatives, coworkers and lifelong friends as warm, caring and deeply devoted to her family. She worked in an administrative office role and maintained close relationships with those around her.

Her cousin, Barbi Townsend, later told ABC News that Krista poured her heart into raising her sons and would have done anything to help them if they had been honest about their struggles. Friends similarly described her as compassionate, dependable and generous with her time.

When Krista failed to report for work in early July 2021, coworkers immediately became concerned because her absence was so out of character. One of those coworkers, Daniel Kroninger, repeatedly tried contacting her before visiting the Halderson home himself, becoming one of the first people outside the family to realise something was seriously wrong.

Parents Who Believed Their Son

For years, Bart and Krista believed Chandler’s claims that he was attending Madison Area Technical College, earning an information technology degree and preparing for an exciting future.

He also told them he had worked for American Family Insurance and had secured a prestigious position with SpaceX in Florida. The couple supported those ambitions, believing their son was about to begin the next stage of his career.

Investigators later determined those claims were fabricated. Prosecutors presented evidence showing Chandler had created fake email accounts impersonating college officials and advisers to convince his parents that delays involving transcripts and enrolment were legitimate.

The deception continued for months before Bart began pressing for documentation. Prosecutors argued that his determination to uncover the truth became the central motive for the murders.

The Search for Bart and Krista

The alarm was first raised during the Fourth of July holiday weekend in 2021 when family members and coworkers could not reach Bart or Krista.

On July 7, Chandler reported them missing, telling investigators they had travelled to the family’s cabin with another couple. Detectives quickly found inconsistencies. Both of the couple’s vehicles remained at the family home, and there was no evidence they had recently visited their cabin in northern Wisconsin.

As investigators searched for answers, witnesses came forward with information that challenged Chandler’s account. The case rapidly shifted from a missing persons investigation to a homicide investigation after human remains were discovered on a rural property connected to Chandler’s movements.

A Tragic Discovery

Authorities first recovered the torso of Bart Halderson on farmland near Cottage Grove after a witness reported seeing Chandler acting suspiciously in the area. The remains showed Bart had been shot before being dismembered.

Several days later, investigators searching an area near the Wisconsin River recovered the remains of Krista Halderson. The location was identified through digital evidence, including Snapchat location data shared with investigators by Chandler’s girlfriend.

Only Krista’s legs were recovered, preventing the medical examiner from determining her precise cause of death. Prosecutors nevertheless argued that both parents had been murdered inside their Windsor home before their bodies were dismembered and transported to separate rural locations.

The Trial That Revealed Their Final Days

During Chandler Halderson’s 2022 trial, prosecutors reconstructed what they believed happened inside the Halderson home during the first days of July 2021.

Forensic experts testified about blood evidence found in the basement, signs of extensive cleanup and more than 200 human bone fragments recovered from the home’s fireplace. Investigators also linked tools recovered from a nearby farm to DNA belonging to Bart and Krista.

The prosecution argued that Bart was killed after confronting Chandler about his fabricated college education and employment history. They alleged Krista was murdered shortly afterward when she returned home, making both parents victims of an effort to prevent years of deception from being exposed.

Remembering Bart and Krista

Throughout the investigation and trial, family members consistently described Bart and Krista as loving parents who wanted the best for both of their sons. They were remembered not for conflict within the family, but for the encouragement and opportunities they provided.

Krista’s cousin, Barbi Townsend, said Bart and Krista would have helped Chandler through any personal or academic difficulties had he simply told them the truth. Those who knew the couple have echoed that sentiment, saying they believed honesty would have been met with support rather than rejection.

The Halderson case continues to receive national attention because of the extraordinary circumstances surrounding the murders. Yet at its heart are two people remembered by those closest to them as hardworking parents who devoted their lives to their family. Road Map to Murder revisits not only the investigation that solved the case, but also the lives of Bart and Krista Halderson, whose deaths left an enduring void for their loved ones.

More “Road Map to Murder”

More Feature Articles

Avatar photo

Ryan Gill

Ryan is a passionate follower of true crime television programs, reporting on and providing in-depth investigations on mysteries in the criminal world.

You may also like...

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *