A call to police over a car gone off the road led to a homicide investigation after Blue Earth County sheriff’s deputies found a 71-year-old man dead in his apartment early Tuesday.
The Sheriff’s office revealed Blaine Lars Almhjeld’s identity late Tuesday, as well as the suspect’s, in what deputies are calling a homicide after Almhjeld’s body was found with “obvious signs of trauma.”
The Minnesota Star Tribune does not typically name suspects before they are charged.
Deputies were called shortly after 2 a.m. Tuesday to investigate a car off the road on Hwy. 22 south of Terrace View Golf Course in Mankato, the sheriff said in a news release. A witness said the driver left the scene walking north, but law enforcement at first couldn’t find him.
The car was registered to Almhjeld; deputies checked his apartment in Mapleton and that’s when they found his body. A suspect described by law enforcement as living with Almhjeld later turned himself in while officers were searching for him near the car.
The suspect is being held at the Blue Earth County jail pending charges, which could include second-degree murder. Blue Earth County Capt. Paul Barta said in a release the investigation into Almhjeld’s death is underway.
