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A 22-year-old woman was found dead from multiple stab wounds inside a locked apartment in south St. Cloud on Saturday night, according to the St. Cloud Police Department.
Her husband, 23, was discovered in the same apartment with life-threatening injuries that investigators believe were self-inflicted, police said. He remains hospitalized, in police custody, and is expected to face charges related to the homicide once he is medically cleared.
Authorities identified the victim as Hallie Marie Tobler. Multiple outlets report she is the daughter of Jeff Johnson, a Republican candidate in the 2026 Minnesota governor’s race who suspended his campaign after her death.
What Police Say Happened
Police said officers were dispatched around 8:20 p.m. Feb. 7 to the 3100 block of 40th Avenue South for a medical emergency. Inside, they found Hallie Tobler dead. Investigators said the couple was located together in a locked apartment.
The suspect, identified by police and regional reporting as Dylan Michael Tobler, was transported to a local hospital with life-threatening wounds and has since been listed in stable condition while under guard. Police have said he will be moved to Stearns County Jail after discharge.
Police have also said there is no ongoing threat to the public as the case remains active.
Medical Examiner Findings
Regional reporting says an autopsy was performed by the Midwest Medical Examiner’s Office and determined the victim’s injuries were consistent with multiple stab wounds.
State Investigators Brought In
The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is assisting local police with the investigation, according to multiple reports.
A Prior Case Detail Now Part of the Public Record
Court reporting tied to the case includes a prior domestic incident involving the couple.
According to one regional outlet citing online court records, Dylan Tobler pleaded guilty in January in Stearns County District Court to disorderly conduct, a petty misdemeanor, stemming from a June 2025 incident in which he choked Hallie Tobler.
That detail is now shaping how the case is being discussed publicly, as investigators continue to build the record of what led up to Saturday night.
Political Ripple Effects in a Crowded Governor’s Race
The killing has had immediate consequences in Minnesota politics.
The Republican Party of Minnesota announced Monday that Johnson suspended his gubernatorial campaign following his daughter’s death.
Condolences also came from major figures across party lines. Amy Klobuchar issued a public statement offering sympathy to the family, according to national reporting.
Local reporting also framed the killing as an early-year marker for violence in St. Cloud, with one outlet reporting it was believed to be the city’s first homicide of 2026 after five were reported the prior year.
What Remains Unknown
Even with early identifiers released, major questions are unanswered and will likely stay that way until charging documents, probable cause statements, and court hearings make the underlying evidence public:
- A specific motive has not been publicly established.
- The sequence of events inside the apartment remains limited to investigators’ preliminary findings.
- Formal charges and exact counts are pending the suspect’s medical release and booking.
Investigators commonly say early information can change as witness interviews, forensic analysis, and digital evidence are processed. Local reporting has also flagged that law enforcement accounts reflect what is known at the time and may be updated.
Intimate Partner Violence and Risk
The case is being widely discussed as a suspected domestic homicide, particularly because police allege the suspect’s injuries were self-inflicted and that he was responsible for his wife’s death.
For readers trying to place cases like this in a national frame, the National Domestic Violence Hotline reports domestic violence affects millions of people each year in the United States.
If you or someone you know needs help, Minnesota reporting has pointed to statewide resources through the Minnesota Department of Public Safety and the Day One Crisis Hotline (1-866-223-1111).
