First-degree murder charges have now been brought against a Robbinsdale man and his girlfriend accused of killing his older brother and burning his body in a rural Minnesota fire pit in a dispute about money, the Anoka County Attorney's office said Thursday.
A grand jury last week indicted Andrew Hawes, 36, and Kristina Dorniden, 29, with aiding and abetting first-degree murder with premeditation for the death of Edwin Hawes, 46, of Andover, on Oct. 29 and 30
The two, along with, Elizabeth Hawes, sister of both Andrew and Edwin Hawes, were initially charged with aiding and abetting second-degree murder.
Assistant Anoka County Attorney Deidre Aanstad would not comment on whether Elizabeth Hawes would also be indicted for first-degree murder. All three remain in the Anoka County jail.
The indictments, unsealed this week, followed testimony by 18 witnesses, including law enforcement, medical examiners and relatives of the suspects about the events leading up to the death of Hawes, who was allegedly shot in the chest with a crossbow, beaten with a bat and run over at his Andover home before his body was burned at a rural Westbrook farm owned by Andrew Hawes and Dorniden.
Prosecutors said Elizabeth and Andrew Hawes believed their brother Edwin had embezzled money from the family landscaping business.
A first-degree murder charge, if convicted, carries a sentence of life without parole.
ABBY SIMONS
