A man has been charged in the death of his girlfriend in a case that led authorities from Brooklyn Park to St. Paul.

Timothy Heller, 42, was charged Friday with second-degree murder in the death of 36-year-old Lacy Jo Krube, according to the Hennepin County Attorney's Office. Prosecutors are asking for $2 million in bail.

Heller has been previously convicted of domestic assault, felony assault and for violating various protection orders, according to court records.

Prosecutors will seek a higher sentence than recommended by the state's sentencing guidelines "because of the cruelty of the [assault] and because Heller is a career criminal with 10 convictions, mainly for domestic abuse-related charges," according to a news release from the county attorney's office.

Heller is accused of physically assaulting Krube at a home in the 7500 block of Brunswick Avenue in Brooklyn Park, where the two were staying, according to the criminal complaint.

The homeowners told authorities they allowed Heller, who was homeless, to stay there in early February during a cold snap. He later asked if his girlfriend could stay, and the owners agreed.

On Saturday, the homeowners told Heller and Krube they needed to leave the house the next day. Later that day, they noticed Krube had bruises and injuries to her face.

Krube told the owners that Heller caused the injuries, and one of the owners began physically fighting with Heller. Heller then fled the scene.

The homeowners tried to persuade Krube to go to the hospital for treatment of her injuries, but she refused and asked them to drive her to a friend's home in the 1500 block of Jackson Street in St. Paul.

At the St. Paul home, her friends asked her what happened and urged her to go to the hospital, but she refused, the charges say. Paramedics were called when she lost consciousness. She was later pronounced dead.

The Ramsey County Medical Examiner's Office found numerous injuries on Krube from being physically assaulted, and the cause of death was ruled as a ruptured stomach caused by blunt trauma to the abdominal area.

Heller was arrested Monday. In an interview with authorities, he denied causing Krube's death but admitted to punching and head-butting her. He also claimed she was physically assaulted by another boyfriend several weeks before her death.

Alex Chhith • 612-673-4759