Three charged in man's death; bloodied sword, bayonet, hammer found
Authorities Monday charged three suspects in the death of a St. Paul man last week.
Carlos Yobani-Flores Amador, 38, Santana Martinez Valdez, 35, and Maria Herlina Luna, 48, are being held in Ramsey County jail suspected of second-degree murder in the death of Andrew William Braun.
On March 19, a friend found Braun dead in his home in the Payne-Phalen neighborhood. Police say a Japanese-style sword, a hammer and a bayonet were found on the scene with blood on them.
Luna and Valdez told police they were involved in the attack on Braun, saying they used a screwdriver and BB gun to inflict some of Braun's injuries, according to the criminal complaint. Ramsey County Medical Examiner reported that Braun bled to death.
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Luna told police that Braun owed the three suspects $12,000, allegedly for methamphetamines, according to the criminal complaint.
Ramsey County Attorney John Choi said he is not able to comment on whether the incident was connected to drug trafficking.
"At the end of the day, this is a homicide case," Choi said. "From our perspective, we'll be treating this with the utmost care and we'll be pursuing this case rigorously to get justice for the victim and our community."
The charges against each suspect carry a maximum sentence of 40 years imprisonment. Their first court appearance is Tuesday.