Farmington woman killed in her home, relative arrested

An elderly woman was killed in her Farmington home late Thursday, the suburb's first homicide since the 1970s, police said Friday.

A male relative was arrested after the woman, believed to be in her 80s, was found dead in the house in the 600 block of Linden Street. Farmington Police Chief Brian Lindquist said police were called on a report of a medical emergency at 11:42 p.m. They found the woman dead "from blunt force trauma, homicidal violence."

The call to police was made by another person at the home who was related to both the woman and the suspect, the chief said. He declined to describe how all three people are related, but he said the victim and suspect are not a married couple.

The victim's identity has not been released. The suspect is being held in the Dakota County jail without bail. The Dakota County attorney's office said charges would be filed Monday. The Star Tribune typically does not name suspects until they are charged.

Farmington has seen rapid growth over the decades, but no homicides, Lindquist said. "[Many] of the residents here weren't residents here [at] the last homicide," he said.

By Friday morning, the Linden Street neighborhood was quiet — no police tape or investigators on the scene. A few people who identified themselves as family friends arrived and entered the reddish-brown house. They declined to comment and said a woman at the house was not ready to talk to the media.

Lindquist said police had been called to the house a few times over the years, but not for any recurring issue.

Herb Carson said he has lived across the street from the family since he moved into the neighborhood decades ago. He looked outside his front window Friday as cars slowly passed by.

"It's a shock," Carson said. "Somebody you knew 53 years, and this happens to them."

Stephen Montemayor • 952-746-3282