Man accused of killing co-worker with sledgehammer at Cokato business
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A central Minnesota man is accused of beating his co-worker to death with a sledgehammer at their workplace in Cokato.
The Wright County Sheriff's Office responded to a 911 call around 6 a.m. Tuesday at Advanced Process Technologies, a company that manufactures food and dairy processing equipment.
Deputies found a woman with significant head injuries and blood loss. Despite emergency responders’ efforts to resuscitate her, she died at the scene.
The sheriff’s office identified the victim as Amber Czech, 20, of Hutchinson.
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Authorities arrested David Delong, 40, of Watkins. He was charged Wednesday in Wright County District Court with second-degree murder.
Court documents say surveillance video shows Delong grabbing a sledgehammer from the victim's workstation and swinging it at her multiple times.
Delong allegedly told deputies he did not like the victim and planned to kill her for some time.
A judge set unconditional bail for Delong at $5 million, or $2 million with conditions. His next court hearing is Nov. 24.
Wright County Attorney Brian Lutes said in a statement that he will evaluate whether the case warrants a first-degree murder charge. Minnesota law requires a grand jury indictment for charges that carry a sentence of life in prison.
In a statement, Advanced Process Technologies said the company is “heartbroken by yesterday’s tragedy and our thoughts are with the victim’s family and friends in this terrible moment.”
“We are also making sure our employees have the support they need and working closely with law enforcement as they continue their investigation,” the statement read.
Friends of Czech’s family have set up a memorial fundraiser on GoFundMe.
"Amber was a hardworking welder who took great pride in her craft and dreamed of building a bright future through her work," the page states. "Her witty personality, positive attitude, and beautiful smile touched everyone who knew her."
