“What the Neighbors Saw”: 48 Hours Reports on Gary Herbst Homicide March 21 2026
48 Hours returns with “What the Neighbors Saw,” airing Saturday, March 21 at 10:00 PM ET/PT on CBS, with streaming on Paramount+. Correspondent Peter Van Sant examines a case that began with a missing person report and developed into a homicide investigation involving members of the same family. The episode focuses on the disappearance of Gary Albert Herbst and the evidence that surfaced years later.
The broadcast presents a detailed timeline, moving from the initial absence of Gary Herbst in 2013 to the eventual discovery of his remains and the legal proceedings that followed. It also features an interview with his son, Austin Herbst, whose role in the case became central to the investigation and its outcome.
The Disappearance of Gary Herbst
Gary Herbst was last seen in July 2013 at his home in Elko New Market, Minnesota. At the time, his disappearance did not immediately prompt a police investigation. It was not until July 2014, a full year later, that he was officially reported missing, after family members raised concerns about his absence.
Accounts provided to investigators suggested that Gary had left the home abruptly. His wife, Connie Herbst, told police that he had taken personal belongings, cash, and a firearm. Austin Herbst also stated that his father had left in a vehicle driven by an unknown individual. These early explanations delayed suspicion and allowed the case to remain unresolved for several years.
Discovery of Remains and Identification
In December 2017, a property owner in Barron County, Wisconsin, contacted authorities after a dog brought a human skull fragment onto his driveway. A search of the surrounding wooded area led to the recovery of additional skeletal remains. For more than two years, the identity of the remains remained unknown.
In 2020, the DNA Doe Project used genetic genealogy to identify the remains as Gary Herbst. This development marked a turning point in the investigation. What had been a missing persons case was now confirmed as a homicide, prompting renewed scrutiny of the circumstances surrounding his disappearance.
Evidence Inside the Home
Investigators returned to the Herbst family home and uncovered evidence that contradicted earlier statements. New homeowners reported discovering a suspicious stain in the basement during renovations. Testing later confirmed the presence of human blood at the site.
Further forensic work revealed blood on surrounding materials, including drywall, wood structures, and areas near a basement exit. These findings supported the theory that Gary Herbst had been killed inside the home. The evidence indicated that efforts had been made to clean the scene, but traces remained.
What the Neighbors Saw
Witness accounts from neighbors became a significant part of the case. Several individuals reported unusual activity in the weeks following Gary Herbst’s disappearance. One neighbor described seeing a pickup truck positioned near the home’s sliding glass door, along with what appeared to be a rolled-up carpet in the truck bed.
Other neighbors recalled seeing Connie and Austin Herbst cleaning the basement area. There were also reports of a garage sale held shortly after Gary’s disappearance, during which items belonging to him were sold. These observations, while not immediately acted upon, later aligned with the physical evidence uncovered by investigators.
The Investigation and Confession
As the case was reopened in 2020, investigators conducted new interviews and executed search warrants. Austin Herbst eventually acknowledged knowledge of what had happened. He told investigators that his father had been abusive toward both him and his mother, a claim that became part of the case narrative.
Authorities determined that Gary Herbst was killed on July 6, 2013, inside the family home. His body remained there for a period of time before being transported to rural Wisconsin, where it was left in a wooded area. Investigators also learned that the firearm connected to the case had been disposed of in a body of water.
Charges, Guilty Pleas, and Sentencing
Austin Herbst was charged with aiding and abetting second-degree murder. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 150 months in prison. His role in the killing and subsequent disposal of the body formed the basis of the charges.
Connie Herbst was charged as an accomplice after the fact for assisting in concealing and transporting Gary Herbst’s body. She also pleaded guilty and received a shorter prison sentence. The legal outcome brought resolution to a case that had remained unanswered for years.
A Case Built on Time and Detail
“What the Neighbors Saw” presents a case shaped by delayed discovery and the accumulation of small but significant details. The identification of remains, advances in forensic science, and renewed investigative work all contributed to solving the crime.
The episode highlights how observations made years earlier gained importance once new evidence emerged. It also examines the impact of family dynamics within the case, along with the legal consequences that followed. Through interviews and investigative reporting, the broadcast offers a comprehensive account of how the truth behind Gary Herbst’s disappearance was uncovered.
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