Neighbor accused of looting home with dead man inside

By David Chanen, Star Tribune

Last update: July 8, 2009 - 5:27 AM

When is a Samaritan not so good?

Ask the family of Charles Lindemans. Minneapolis police said 28-year-old David Niedzielski, allegedly checking his welfare Saturday, found Lindemans dead and didn't call 911. Instead, he ransacked his house, taking nearly a dozen pieces of jewelry and two guns, police say.

A neighbor called police after the man was inside the house for more than 10 minutes, said Sgt. Jesse Garcia. Niedzielski then started fighting with his brother, who was angry that Niedzielski stole from Lindemans. Outside the home, officers later found jewelry with Lindemans' initials in Niedzielski's pockets.

Lindemans' death isn't suspicious, Garcia said. Niedzielski was charged Tuesday with felony second-degree burglary and is being held in the Hennepin County jail.

Garcia said Niedzielski hadn't seen Lindemans, 55, around the neighborhood and noticed a smell coming from his house. He kicked in Lindemans' back door and found him dead upstairs in the house in north Minneapolis, Garcia said.

He allegedly stole several watches and necklaces, seven pairs of earrings, a cell phone, a rifle and a revolver, Garcia said. The suspect's sister said he might have been drunk, but Garcia said he had enough sense to grab valuables. He never touched Lindemans' body.

"This the first time I've heard of somebody ransacking a home with the deceased still inside," Garcia said.

Relatives of Niedzielski and Lindemans couldn't be reached for comment.

Recent Local + Metro stories

Dateline Minneapolis: Inefficiency marks USDA lunch program - July 8, 2009

Dateline Minneapolis: Inefficiency marks USDA lunch program - A graduate of Minneapolis South High who's doing her doctoral thesis on school lunch programs in Minnesota says waste is widespread -- and costly -- in the federal food giveaways. More