A Wright County employee has been charged with second-degree intentional murder after authorities say he attacked and killed a female co-worker with a sledgehammer inside a Cokato business earlier this week.
Wright County Attorney Brian Lutes announced the charge against David Bruce Delong and said prosecutors may pursue an upgraded charge of first-degree premeditated murder, pending a grand jury review. Delong is expected to appear in court soon, where bail and release conditions will be set. The criminal complaint and official statement from the county attorney’s office have been made publicly available.
According to the complaint, Wright County Sheriff’s Deputy Thompson responded to a 911 call around 8:30 a.m. on Nov. 11 at Advanced Process Technologies in Cokato. Inside the business, deputies found the victim suffering from fatal head injuries.
Surveillance footage from the facility allegedly shows Delong grabbing a sledgehammer and striking the victim multiple times. Investigators say Delong later admitted to killing the woman.
“I hit her with your hammer, she is by your toolbox, she is gone,” Delong reportedly told a witness, according to court documents.
The evidence — including Delong’s confession, witness statements, and the surveillance video — led prosecutors to charge him with second-degree murder. The complaint was electronically signed by Deputy Kevin Olson and County Attorney Brian Lutes, who concluded there was sufficient probable cause.
Judge Geoffrey Tenney has issued an Order of Detention, requiring Delong to remain in custody unless bail is granted. Specific bail amounts or release conditions have not yet been disclosed. Records indicate that if Delong fails to appear when summoned, a warrant will be issued for his arrest.
The full criminal complaint and the official statement from the Wright County Attorney’s Office are available on the Wright County website.
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