Authorities Charge Elk River Man After Roommate Found Dead
BY MN CRIME STAFF
An Elk River man is charged with two counts of second-degree murder after authorities say his roommate was beaten and killed inside a home earlier this month.
The charges stem from a Jan. 4 incident at a residence on Fillmore Street Northwest in Elk River after a woman called police and asked for a welfare check on the victim.
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According to the criminal complaint, Elk River police were dispatched to the home for a welfare check after a woman reported that Brandon Donald Rose, 49, had called her saying his roommate was dead and that he planned to kill himself. The caller told officers Rose sounded agitated and made conflicting statements, at times saying his roommate was dead and then claiming he was not, before again stating the roommate had died and hanging up.
Officers arrived at the residence and received no response after knocking. An officer looked through a window and saw a man lying on the floor, partially covered with clothing and not moving. Police forced entry into the home and made their way to the basement, where they found the man lying on the floor with visible injuries to his head and neck. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
During a sweep of the home, officers found blood on the bathroom floor near where the victim was lying. Police also located Rose in a basement bedroom, unresponsive, with a needle in his arm. Officers administered Narcan, and Rose regained consciousness. A syringe containing a blue-colored substance was found nearby, and officers noted blue dye on Rose’s hands along with blood on his hands and shorts. Police also observed scratches on his arms, with swelling and bruising on his right hand.
Investigators reported that the victim had the same blue dye on his hands, mouth and nose. Officers documented extensive injuries, including swelling to the jaw, eyes swollen shut, blood on the head, red marks on the neck, bruising on the shoulder and multiple scratches. A medical examiner investigator later noted a large gash on the back of the victim’s head.
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Inside the bathroom, officers found a shower curtain rod pulled down into the tub, a shower curtain stuffed into a laundry basket with what appeared to be blood on it, and a bathrobe belt hanging from a towel rack that also appeared to be bloodstained. Blood spatter was observed on the victim’s chest and on a wall behind him. In Rose’s bedroom, officers located a bottle labeled methylene blue, consistent with the blue dye found on both Rose and the victim.
Investigators later interviewed the woman who contacted police. She told detectives she had recently begun dating Rose and had stayed at the residence on Jan. 2. She said the home appeared normal at that time and that she did not notice any issues between Rose and his roommate. She reported that Rose had previously told her his roommate had entered his room intoxicated on Dec. 31 and asked him sexual questions, which Rose said he planned to ignore.
The woman said she was on the phone with Rose during the evening of Jan. 3 into the early morning hours of Jan. 4 and heard repeated banging on Rose’s door. She described Rose becoming increasingly upset during the call and later sending her messages she found concerning. In the early morning hours, Rose called her multiple times and told her “the worst thing possible” had happened, stating his roommate was dead and that his hand was injured. He again alternated between saying the roommate was dead and claiming he was not, before repeating that he was deceased.
After his arrest, Rose spoke with investigators after being advised of his rights. According to the complaint, Rose said his roommate had come into his room and that there was a physical struggle. He again referenced prior sexual advances by the victim and claimed the victim had touched him on the day of the incident.
An autopsy was performed the following day. The medical examiner reported the victim suffered numerous rib fractures to the front, back and sides of his chest, a broken clavicle, fractures to internal neck bones and bleeding in the brain. The manner of death was ruled a homicide, with the medical examiner ruling blunt force trauma and possible asphyxiation as contributing factors.
Rose is charged with second-degree murder with intent and second-degree murder without intent. Each charge carries a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison if convicted.
