A Cambridge man shook up the small town of Crosby when he entered Heartwood Senior Living Community in Crosby to meet with his sister, Danyele Marie Johnson, who worked in the kitchen and allegedly stabbed her death.
David Michael Otey, 38, was charged with felony second-degree intentional murder without premeditation in Crow Wing County District Court in Brainerd. His bond was set at $3 million unconditional bail.
According to the criminal complaint, Otey traveled Jan. 13, 2018, to Heartwood to meet with his sister. The visit was unannounced and unexpected. When Otey arrived, his sister let him into the senior living facility. Otey assisted his sister preparing food for 30 minutes, then he took a knife and began stabbing her, the complaint stated. A co-worker called law enforcement.
A Crosby police officer was the first to respond. The officer was met by a frantic woman outside Heartwood who let him into the locked facility. Once inside, another frantic co-worker pointed to the kitchen stating, "He's in there!"
The officer drew his weapon, breached the door and observed Otey kneeling down on the floor. The officer ordered Otey to put his hands up. The officer heard what sounded like a knife drop and bounce off the floor as the defendant complied. The officer moved around the counter and observed Johnson lying lifeless in front of Otey, the complaint stated.
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Otey was taken into custody. Cuyuna Regional Medical Center paramedics arrived and declared Johnson dead at the scene. Johnson's body was transported to the Ramsey County Medical Examiner's Office for an autopsy. The cause of death was determined to be exsanguination due to multiple stab wounds to the body and incised wounds to the neck, the complaint stated. The manner of death was declared a homicide.
Otey was to appear for a contested hearing Dec. 10, 2018, but it was canceled. A new court date has not been set.
