Burnsville Man Indicted in 82-year-old Mother’s Death
A Dakota County grand jury has indicted a man on one count of premeditated first-degree murder and one count of intentional second-degree murder in relation to his mother’s 2022 death.
The indictment was announced Friday. Troy Michael Mitteness, 57, of Burnsville, was initially charged with intentional second-degree murder in the case, but the upgraded charges followed the grand jury's findings.
Previously: Burnsville Man Arrested for Murdering Mother, Disposing of Body Parts
According to the criminal complaint, Mitteness confessed to Burnsville police that he stabbed his mother, Sandra Viola Mitteness, 82, at his Burnsville home in June 2022 after she became suspicious that he had spent all of her money. In the days following her death, Mitteness admitted to dismembering her body and discarding the remains in road ditches while driving from Burnsville to Appleton, Minnesota.
Burnsville police detectives initially began investigating Troy Mitteness for mail theft in late June 2023. Investigators discovered that funds from multiple stolen money orders had been deposited into a joint bank account owned by Sandra and Troy Mitteness. When officers asked to speak with Sandra about the transactions, Troy initially claimed that his mother was in Milbank, South Dakota, but later changed his story, stating that she had died on June 14, 2022.
While executing a search warrant at Troy's residence related to the mail theft investigation, authorities found an obituary for Sandra, indicating her alleged death on June 14, 2022. Investigators contacted the funeral home mentioned in the obituary, and employees confirmed they had no record of providing any services for Sandra. Additionally, family members and friends reported not having seen Sandra for several months.
Burnsville police opened a missing person investigation into Sandra Mitteness. During the course of the investigation, officers interviewed various family members who claimed that Troy had informed them of Sandra's death within the past year. Family members recounted that Troy had informed them Sandra had fallen down the stairs and was hospitalized in June 2022 and they were unable to visit due to COVID restrictions, Troy told them.
Family members told police that Troy had sold Sandra's vehicle to a relative shortly after her alleged death. The family member who took possession of the car reported that Troy wanted to get rid of the vehicle quickly, even offering it for free. They then eventually sold the car to another person. Detectives located the new owner, who still had possession of the vehicle and allowed officers to search the car. After examining the trunk, preliminary tests revealed traces of blood.
Officers then executed a search warrant at Troy Mitteness' residence on July 6, 2023. That search yielded significant physical evidence, including evidence of blood on the stairs and on a mattress box spring.
If convicted of premeditated first-degree murder, Mitteness faces a mandatory life sentence without the possibility of parole.
Mitteness is being held at the Dakota County Jail and is expected to make another court appearance following the indictment on Friday afternoon.
> See more of our latest coverage
