Former Minnesota gubernatorial candidate Jeff Johnson and his wife, Julie, released a statement overnight addressing their 22-year-old daughter’s fatal stabbing.
“We are heartbroken beyond words by the tragic and senseless loss of our beloved daughter, Hallie Marie,” they said in a message published by People on Thursday.
“Hallie was a bright light in our lives and in the lives of so many others. She was kind, compassionate and full of promise,” the statement continued. “The pain of losing her in this way is something no family should ever have to endure, and we are still struggling to comprehend this unimaginable reality.”
The Johnsons’ 23-year-old son-in-law, Dylan Michael Tobler, has been charged with killing his wife in their St. Cloud home on Saturday. Tobler also suffered knife wounds that police believe were self-inflicted.
He was arrested and charged with second-degree murder after being “medically cleared and released from the St. Cloud Hospital” on Tuesday.
In the Johnsons’ statement, they stressed “the importance of mental health support,” urging the public to seek help if they or anyone they know is struggling with such issues.
“Right now, our focus is on honoring Hallie’s memory and supporting all those whose lives she touched during this devastating loss,” the parents wrote. “We ask that everyone keep our daughter in their thoughts and remember her for the beautiful person she was.”
Jeff Johnson, a Republican who once served as a St. Cloud city councilman, hoped to replace outgoing Gov. Tim Walz in the Minnesota Governor’s Residence. Waltz expressed his condolences after the Minnesota Republican Party announced on Monday that Johnson was suspending his 2026 gubernatorial campaign.
