Cokato (trfnews.i234.me) — A Watkins man first charged with killing a female co-worker in Cokato now faces a more serious count of premeditated murder after a Wright County grand jury indictment.
Grand Jury Adds First-Degree Murder Charge
David Bruce Delong, 40, of Watkins, is accused of attacking 20-year-old Amber Czech of Hutchinson at their workplace, Advanced Process Technologies in Cokato.
The company works in the food and dairy industry. Both Delong and Czech were employees there.
According to court records, Delong allegedly swung a sledgehammer several times at Czech during the November 11, 2025, attack.
On December 5, a Wright County grand jury met to review the case.
The panel heard evidence from the Wright County Attorney’s Office.
Jurors unanimously agreed there was enough evidence to charge Delong with first-degree murder with premeditation. They also approved a second-degree murder charge for intentionally causing Czech’s death.
In Minnesota, a conviction for first-degree premeditated murder carries a mandatory sentence of life in prison without parole.
Court Hearings, Bail, And Mental Health Review
The indictment was filed publicly on Monday, December 8. Delong then appeared in court on the new murder counts.
He is being held at the Wright County jail. The court set bail at $5 million, or $2 million with conditions.
Court records show that on November 24 a judge ordered an evaluation of Delong’s mental competence. The review will decide if he can take part in the case and stand trial.
Delong’s next hearing, a review date, is currently set for January 15, 2026. He remains presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
What Investigators Say Happened At The Plant
The original criminal complaint says deputies were called around
6 a.m. on November 11. The 911 caller reported an injured woman at
the Advanced Process Technologies facility.
The caller said Czech had serious head wounds and heavy blood loss. First responders tried to save her, but she died from her injuries.
Investigators quickly focused on Delong as a suspect. Another male worker told officials Delong said something like, “I hit her with your hammer, she is by your toolbox, she is gone.”
Deputies found a bloody sledgehammer lying on the floor by Czech’s body, according to the complaint.
Video from inside the plant shows Delong leaving his station and walking toward Czech. The complaint says he picked up a sledgehammer near her work area.
Czech is not in the camera’s view. The video then shows Delong swinging the hammer once in a horizontal motion. After that, he appears to swing four more times toward the ground.
Community Grieves Loss Of Young Tradeswoman
Czech’s death drew national attention, especially among women working in the trades.
A memorial fundraiser on GoFundMe has raised more than $125,000, according to updates posted in December. Supporters from across the country have donated.
Her family wrote that Amber was a “hardworking welder who took great pride in her craft.” They thanked the public for the “immense outpouring of support” during a painful time.
According to her obituary, Czech loved the outdoors, fishing, sports, chocolate milk, and Milwaukee tools. On many Fridays off, she returned to Hutchinson High School to help teach welding and promote skilled trades.
Calls For Safer Workplaces For Tradeswomen
Rita Brown, president of the National Association of Women in Construction, released a statement after the killing.
Brown said many tradeswomen have faced harassment, threats, and intimidation on job sites. She added that warning signs are often seen but not addressed.
The group offered condolences to the Czech family, her friends, co-workers, and community. Brown called for urgent action from companies, unions, and agencies to protect tradeswomen.
“Amber’s name must not become another statistic; her death must be a turning point,” Brown said in the written statement.
A 2021 report by the Institute for Women’s Policy Research found that more than one in four tradeswomen said they were often harassed for being women on the job.
Nearly four in ten said complaints to supervisors were not taken seriously. Many women in the study did not report harassment because they feared retaliation or being pushed out of their jobs.
Supporters say they hope changes in workplace culture and enforcement will honor Czech’s legacy and protect other women in the trades.
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.
