A Watkins man is in custody in Wright County, and is charged with the death of a female co-worker at a Cokato workplace.
The Wright County Sheriff’s Office received a 9-1-1 call around 6 AM Tuesday from Advanced Process Technologies in Cokato regarding a female worker being found at her workstation with significant head trauma. APT is a metal fabrication manufacturing company in Cokato.
Deputies arrived on the scene along with first responders with the Cokato Ambulance. Lifesaving measures were attempted, but the woman was pronounced dead at the scene. The victim has now been identified by numerous sources as 20-year-old Amber Czech of Hutchinson.
The initial investigation indicated that the woman’s death was caused due to an assault by an adult male co-worker with a blunt force object.
Authorities identified the male co-worker as 40-year-old David Bruce Delong of Watkins. The man was taken into custody by deputies at the scene without further incident.
The criminal complaint surrounding the case indicates that Sheriff’s Department detectives reviewed surveillance video which allegedly shows the suspect striking the victim multiple times with a sledgehammer. Further information from the complaint document indicates that the suspect gave a statement to law enforcement officials indicating that he had indeed committed the assault, and allegedly said he did not like the victim.
Wright County Attorney Brian Lutes said in a statement Wednesday that Delong has been charged with 2nd degree intentional murder, and that possible 1st degree murder charges could be forthcoming. A 1st degree murder charge would require the convening of a grand jury.
Delong remains in custody as the investigation continues.
