Filing: Man found dead by police after suffering blow to head in Plymouth home

A Plymouth man suffered an apparent blow to the head before he was discovered dead in an upstairs bedroom of his home, although the circumstances surrounding his death remain murky, according to police and court records.

Police Chief Erik Fadden told the Minnesota Star Tribune on Monday that “we don’t believe it was a homicide” that left 63-year old David Hegre dead.

At the same time, Fadden said, “obviously, it’s a little suspicious” how Hegre ended up dead, and he added that police can “not at this point” rule out that a crime was committed.

The chief also said he doesn’t know whether anyone else was in the home at the time Hegre was injured, and “we’re waiting now for the medical examiner ... on the actual cause of death.”

Police said in a search warrant affidavit filed in Hennepin County District Court Monday that officers on Saturday were sent to the townhome in the 13700 block of 54th Avenue N. on a welfare check request from the man’s adult daughter and found large amounts of blood on both levels.

With the court’s permission, police collected blood in many areas of the home and DNA evidence from Hegre.

According to the affidavit:

Officers entered through the unlocked front door and saw “a large amount of blood scattered all around the main floor and on the stairs leading up to the upstairs portion of the townhome,” the filing read. “The blood trail going up the stairs was consistent with a body being dragged up the stairs, and it appeared some of the blood had been attempted to be cleaned up.”

Hegre’s body was face-up on a bed sheet near the stairs’ landing. Blood also was found in a bathroom and bedroom.

“David appeared to have blunt force trauma to the top portion of his head and rug burns on his knees,” the filing continued.