LITCHFIELD, MN (trfnews.i234.me) — On March 15, 2024, in Litchfield, Minnesota, a male victim was assaulted with a double-bladed ax and a baseball bat during a robbery attempt. The suspects involved were identified as Cassidy Marie Lunz, 21, of Willmar, and Tre Anthony Ertl, 26, of Litchfield.
Lunz has been charged in Meeker County District Court with second-degree attempted murder, aggravated robbery, and two counts of first-degree burglary. Ertl, who has been in custody since July 2024 on unrelated charges, is awaiting trial for first- and second-degree attempted homicide, first-degree robbery, and first-degree assault related to a separate incident.
According to court documents, Lunz and Ertl, along with another male suspect, Joshua Velez, who died in a car accident on June 6, 2024, planned to rob the victim. During the incident, Velez and Ertl allegedly assaulted the victim with an ax and a baseball bat, respectively. The victim sustained multiple deep lacerations and was transported to a hospital in Robbinsdale due to the severity of his injuries.
Lunz was arrested on January 9, 2025, in Paynesville and made her first court appearance on January 10, 2025. She is being held on $750,000 bail, or $250,000 with conditions, including no contact with the victim or his residence. Ertl is scheduled to make his first appearance in this case in March 2025 to face five felony charges: second-degree attempted murder, first-degree assault, aggravated robbery, and two counts of first-degree burglary.
I’m Chris Harper reporting for trfnews.i234.me