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By Alice Gibbs
Senior Reporter
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A 22‑year‑old woman who was fatally stabbed in a St. Cloud apartment over the weekend has been identified as the daughter of Minnesota gubernatorial candidate Jeff Johnson, according to police and the Republican Party of Minnesota.
St. Cloud police said Hallie Tobler was found dead Saturday night inside a locked apartment after officers responded to a report of a medical emergency.
Authorities said Tobler died at the scene from multiple stab wounds. Her husband was found inside the apartment with life‑threatening injuries that investigators believe were self‑inflicted.
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What To Know
Police said officers were called to an apartment on 40th Avenue South at about 8:20 p.m. Saturday, where they found Tobler deceased and her husband injured. Both were inside the locked apartment at the time officers arrived, according to authorities.
"Based on the investigation, it is believed that the husband’s injuries are self‑inflicted and that he is the person responsible for Hallie’s injuries and death," St. Cloud police said in a news release.
In an update shared with Newsweek, St. Cloud Police Chief Jeff Oxton said the suspect, identified as her husband, Dylan Michael Tobler, 23, was medically cleared and released from St. Cloud Hospital at about 10:45 a.m. on February 10 and immediately taken into custody by police. He was transported to the Stearns County Jail, where he is being held for court on a charge of second‑degree murder. Investigators said the couple were married and were found together inside their locked apartment when officers arrived.
“The investigation remains active with the assistance of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension,” Oxton said, adding that additional updates will be provided as the case develops.
Jeff Johnson Pulls Out of Governor Race
The Republican Party of Minnesota confirmed in a Facebook statement that Tobler was the daughter of Dr. Jeff Johnson, a Republican candidate for governor. The party said Johnson has suspended his campaign following his daughter’s death.
Johnson is not the same Jeff Johnson who previously served as a Hennepin County commissioner and ran twice for governor. He was one of several candidates seeking the Republican nomination this year and finished far back in the field in a recent straw poll at precinct caucuses.
What People Are Saying
Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth said on X: "The Johnson family is walking through an unspeakable tragedy right now, and my prayers are with them every step of the way. As a parent, I can’t imagine the grief and devastation they’re experiencing right now. Please join me in keeping the Johnsons in our thoughts and prayers as they navigate a situation that no family should have to endure."
Minnesota State Representative Peggy Bennett said on X: "I just learned of the tragic death of Dr. Jeff Johnson's daughter, who was murdered in St. Cloud on Saturday evening. (Jeff is a fellow Republican candidate in the Minnesota governor's race.) I cannot even imagine the heartbreak and sorrow that Jeff and his family are experiencing right now. My heart breaks for them. I am holding Jeff and his family up in prayer during this incredibly difficult and heartbreaking time."
The Republican Party of Minnesota said on Facebook: "The Minnesota Republican Party is heartbroken by the tragic loss of Dr. Jeff Johnson’s daughter, who was killed in a violent crime Saturday night in St. Cloud. There are no words that can adequately express the sorrow we feel for Jeff and his family. The loss of a child is unimaginable, and our thoughts and prayers are with them as they grieve this devastating tragedy.
"Out of respect for his family and the enormity of this loss, Jeff has suspended his campaign for Governor of Minnesota. We ask all Minnesotans to join us in lifting up the Johnson family during this incredibly painful time. We also extend our gratitude to the first responders and law enforcement officers involved and ask for patience and compassion as the investigation continues."
What Happens Next
Police said the investigation remains ongoing and that there is no ongoing threat to the public. Authorities said Dylan Tobler is being held in the Stearns County Jail pending his first court appearance on a second‑degree murder charge.
Anyone seeking help should call The National Domestic Violence Hotline, a free and confidential hotline available 24/7 that can be reached on 1-800-799-7233 or TTY 1-800-787-3224. The Hotline also provides information on local resources. For more information, visit https://www.thehotline.org/.
Update 02/11/26, 8:50 a.m. ET: This story was updated with additional comment and information from the St. Cloud police department.
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