Hugo Man Charged in 68-year-old Mom’s Brutal Beating Death
A Washington County man is facing a second-degree murder charge after authorities say he beat his mother to death in their Hugo home earlier this week and fled the scene, leading to a massive manhunt.
According to a criminal complaint filed on Thursday, 45-year-old Trevor Joseph Wunderlich is accused of killing his 68-year-old mother, Charlene Gail Wunderlich, after a violent altercation on the evening of Sept. 16, 2024.
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The incident unfolded just before 6 p.m. when dispatchers at the Washington County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call from a home in the 15900 block of Ingersoll Avenue North. The line remained open and dispatchers could hear what sounded like an assault or struggle taking place. A male voice was heard shouting in the background as a woman moaned in distress.
Deputies quickly responded to the scene, arriving around 5:55 p.m. When they entered the home, they found Charlene lying on the kitchen floor in critical condition, with multiple visible injuries across her body. Seated nearby was her son, Trevor Wunderlich, who deputies say immediately fled into the basement when they tried to detain him. He escaped the residence through a rear door after being Tased.
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Charlene was conscious for a brief time and was able to tell deputies that her son had attacked her, according to the criminal complaint. But she soon lost consciousness. Deputies attempted to provide medical aid and paramedics transported her to Regions Hospital in Saint Paul, where she was pronounced dead around 7:37 p.m.
A medical examiner later determined that Charlene had died from multiple blunt force injuries. She had sustained numerous rib fractures, a sternal fracture, chest wall hemorrhaging and pulmonary contusions, according to the complaint. The manner of death was ruled a homicide.
Following Wunderlich's escape, a large-scale manhunt was launched involving officers from multiple agencies. Wunderlich was last seen fleeing the area shirtless, wearing black and grey shorts. Deputies warned residents that he was considered dangerous and possibly armed.
The search for Wunderlich continued into the night. Just before 11 a.m. the next morning, Sept. 17, law enforcement received a tip from a resident in the 9800 block of 152nd Street North who reported finding a man matching Wunderlich’s description hiding in a camper on the property. When spotted, Wunderlich fled again but officers soon located him nearby and took him into custody without incident.
Wunderlich has a lengthy history of violent criminal behavior including multiple felony assault convictions and violations of restraining orders. According to court records, Charlene Wunderlich had filed a no-contact order against her son in August 2021 after a previous altercation. But she requested the order be lifted in September 2022 and it was officially removed in December of that year.
Wunderlich is now charged with second-degree murder in his mother’s death. He remains in custody and, if convicted, he could face a lengthy prison sentence.
The investigation into the killing is ongoing, with the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension assisting Washington County authorities.
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