The 22-year-old daughter of Jeff Johnson, a Republican candidate for governor of Minnesota, was found fatally stabbed in her apartment and her husband has been arrested, police said.
Hallie Tobler was found dead with multiple stab wounds inside her locked apartment in St. Cloud on Saturday, after officers were called to the residence to investigate reports of a medical emergency, authorities said in a statement.
Her husband, 23-year-old Dylan Tobler, was also on the scene when officers arrived. He was critically injured, suffering from what investigators suspect were self-inflicted stab wounds, and was rushed to the hospital.
On Tuesday, authorities revealed Tobler was “medically cleared and released from the St. Cloud Hospital,” then subsequently arrested.
Officers “had been guarding Dylan since his admission into the hospital and took immediate custody of him upon his release,” authorities said. “Dylan was transported to Stearns County Jail where he will be held for court on the charge of second-degree murder.”
An investigation into the matter is ongoing.
Johnson, who once served as a St. Cloud city councilman, abruptly suspended his campaign over the weekend, following the “tragic loss” of his daughter, the Minnesota Republican Party said in a statement Monday.
“There are no words that can adequately express the sorrow we feel for Jeff and his family. The loss of a child is unimaginable, and our thoughts and prayers are with them as they grieve this devastating tragedy,” the statement said. “Out of respect for his family and the enormity of this loss, Jeff has suspended his campaign for governor of Minnesota. We ask all Minnesotans to join us in lifting up the Johnson family during this incredibly painful time.”
Johnson had been among several big name Republicans campaigning for the governorship, including current frontrunner House Speaker Lisa Demuth as well as “My Pillow” CEO Mike Lindell and U.S. Army Veteran Kendall Qualls.
Last month, Sen. Amy Klobuchar, a D.C. staple for more than two decades and one of the most consistently popular politicians in the region, announced her bid for the governor’s mansion. She’s the lone Democrat to do so.
