Minnesota Man Charged With Murder for Death of Lakeville Woman at Southeast MN Campground
Wabasha, MN (KROC-AM News)- A criminal complaint has revealed new information about a murder that happened at a southeast Minnesota campground last summer.
Read More: Wabasha County Sheriff's Office Announces Murder Arrest for Campground Death
On Friday the Wabasha County Sheriff’s Office announced the arrest of 69-year-old Stanley Alan Munstermann of Madison, MN for the death of 63-year-old Barbara McBride-Law.
The Lakeville woman was found dead in a camper at Mac’s Place Campground, which is about 5 miles northeast of Oronoco along Lake Zumbro, near the RPU hydroelectric dam.
An autopsy determined McBride-Law died of homicidal violence. The Southern Minnesota Regional Medical Examiner’s Office classified her death as a homicide.
Minnesota Man Facing Two Murder Counts for Death of Lakeville Woman at Wabasha County Campground
Munstermann is charged with two counts of second-degree murder and one count of first-degree manslaughter.
He made his first appearance in Wabasha County Court Monday morning. His conditional bail was set at $1 million.
The court document says first responders found McBride-Law’s body in her bed inside of her camper.
She had bruises on the back of her upper arm and there was damage to the wall near her head. There was also a small white vase that had what appeared to be blood on it under her neck.
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After speaking with others at the campground and reviewing camera footage, investigators learned Munstermann was with McBride-Law on the night of her death and that he had left the campground hours before she was found dead in her camper, the complaint says.
Murder Suspect Says He "May Have Killed Someone"
Munsterman told investigators he drove to Plainview, Nebraska to meet his girlfriend. He said he and McBride-Law were close friends and were not in a romantic relationship.
He initially told investigators that he had “blacked out and woke up on I-90” however surveillance footage from a Kwik Trip in Austin contradicted his claims, the charge say.
While in Nebraska, Munstermann allegedly told his girlfriend he “may have killed someone,” the complaint says.
Medical Examiner's Findings
The court document also includes a description of the autopsy which indicates McBride-Law had a brain injury that could have been suffered by being either smothered or strangled.
The complaint says Munstermann’s DNA was found on the vase and under McBride-Law’s fingernails.
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Gallery Credit: Photos supplied by Rochester Police Departmentt
