The victim, Kristi Joy Gardner, was discovered with multiple gunshot wounds and law enforcement quickly identified her former partner as a person of interest in the case.

Authorities are investigating a December 31 shooting in rural Blue Earth County that left a woman injured and resulted in the arrest of an 18-year-old man.

Haley Marie Ross, 24, pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting third-degree murder for her role in distributing a controlled substance that caused her roommate's death in December 2022.

Authorities say Joshua Hoferman, 26, of Good Thunder, was under the influence of cannabis when the crash occurred June 8 about two miles north of Mankato in Lime Township.

The State Patrol says a 22-year-old man suffered life-threatening injuries after he crossed Highway 169 on a UTV and was struck by a pickup truck near Vernon Center in Blue Earth County on Thursday afternoon. State Troopers were called to the intersection of Highway 169 and County Road 31 in Vernon Center Township around 3:15 p.m.

Three people have been charged with aiding and abetting 3rd-degree murder, accused of providing a 21-year-old woman with the drugs that caused her death. 23-year-old Haley Ross and 21-year-old Connor Hoeft, both of North Mankato, along with 25-year-old Kueth Ruae, of Mankato, were all formally charged in court earlier this week.