Minnesota Man Allegedly Kills 20-Year-Old Coworker with Sledgehammer Because He ‘Didn’t Like Her’

A Minnesota man has been charged with second-degree intentional murder after authorities say he violently killed a coworker at a food and dairy processing facility.

David Delong, 40, is accused of fatally beating 20-year-old Amber Czech on Tuesday, Nov. 11, while the two were working at Advanced Process Technologies in Cokato.

According to a press release from the Wright County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded around 6 a.m. after Czech was discovered at her workstation with severe head trauma. First responders attempted lifesaving measures, but she was pronounced dead at the scene.

Surveillance footage reportedly showed Delong and Czech briefly crossing paths before the attack, without any interaction. Wright County Attorney Brian Lutes said Delong then put on work gloves and walked toward Czech’s area, picking up a sledgehammer along the way.

“The first swing is horizontal,” Lutes said, adding that it appeared Czech was standing when the attack began. “Then he makes four more swings, and they’re very aggressive, violent, forceful swings.” The victim was not visible on the camera when she was struck.

After the assault, Delong allegedly spoke to a male coworker, admitting he had attacked her with a hammer and indicating where she could be found near a toolbox.

When authorities arrived, Delong allegedly confessed to the killing and said he had intended to do it. According to the criminal complaint, he admitted he did not like the victim and had been planning to kill her for some time. Lutes stated that Delong claimed he was upset about a “bad look” she had given him previously, though not on the day of the incident — calling it irrational behavior.

The medical examiner determined that Czech died from blunt force trauma to the head.

In a statement shared after the tragedy, Advanced Process Technologies said the company was “heartbroken” and is supporting employees while cooperating with investigators. Production has been paused for the remainder of the week, and administrative staff are working remotely, according to reporting from CBS News.

Delong is being held on $2 million bail and is scheduled to appear in court on Nov. 24. He has not yet entered a plea.