Avon Woman Killed in Motorcycle Crash Near Richmond Worked for Waite Park Police Department

Originally published 12:33 p.m. August 18th, 2026

Updated 7:09 a.m. August 19th, 2026

(KNSI) — An Avon woman killed after her motorcycle left the roadway near Richmond on Sunday evening worked for the Waite Park Police Department.

According to the Stearns County Sheriff’s Office, 52-year-old Kelli Jo Gauthier was riding her motorcycle with a group of riders when she left the group to return to her home north of Avon.

At approximately 5:20 p.m., family members contacted law enforcement after searching for Gauthier for about two hours and being unable to locate her. They told authorities she was riding a 2008 Harley-Davidson XL1200.

Around 6:00 p.m., a Cold Spring-Richmond police officer found Gauthier and her motorcycle in a ditch off a sweeping left-hand curve in the 25500 block of County Road 9 in Munson Township. The crash site was located about one to two miles north of Richmond.

Life-saving measures were attempted, but Gauthier was pronounced dead at the scene.

The Waite Park Police Department says Gauthier served as their Records and Evidence Technician. Department officials say each year, she organized a weeklong law enforcement appreciation event for Waite Park officers, “making sure they felt valued by both the department and the community.”

In a post on their Facebook page, the department said Gauthier “was known for her creativity, wit, kindness, and thoughtfulness, and she had a remarkable ability to make everyone feel welcome and included. She loved her family, spending time on the water, her animals, and the work she did in service to others.

“Her presence, dedication, and spirit will be greatly missed.”

___