(David Delong – image Wright County Sheriff’s Office)
The murder case against a Watkins man in connection with the workplace death of a Hutchinson woman last November is on hold until next week to allow both the prosecution and defense to go over a competency report.
Wright County Attorney Brian Lutes says an independent evaluation was conducted on the mental competency of 40-year-old David Delong of Watkins, who is charged with 1st degree premeditated murder and 2nd degree intentional murder in the death of his 20-year-old co-worker Amber Czech at Advanced Process Technologies in Cokato last November. Delong is accused of beating the young woman to death with a sledgehammer at her work station in the early morning hours of November 11th, 2025. Charges against the man indicate he allegedly told investigators that he didn’t like the young woman and had planned for to kill her for some time.
County Attorney Lutes says the 20 page report on the evaluation was not received via e-filing by the prosecution and defense as well as the judge in the case until late Monday night, just hours before the scheduled 9 AM Tuesday court hearing. County Attorney Lutes says the importance of the contents of the evaluation report prompted him to ask for a one-week delay in the court hearing…
“What I asked for, and the defense attorney agreed with me, because he had just received the report on that short timeline as well, as did the judge, we all get the report at the same time. We asked for a week so that we could review the report, and decide what we want to do with respect to the report.”
Lutes says his request was met favorably by all parties…
“A judge has to make a determination within 14 days of receiving a report regarding competency, and then either side has 10 days to challenge the results of the report if either side, prosecution or defense decides to challenge it. So I wanted an opportunity to discuss the report with my office and decide how to go forward.”
The competency hearing was delayed to next Tuesday, February 10th at 3 PM via ZOOM. Meanwhile, Delong remains in custody at the Wright County Jail in Buffalo.
(Amber Czech – image Facebook)
A benefit for the family of Amber Czech is planned for Saturday from 1 to 7 PM at the Lake Marion Ballroom in Brownton.
