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Man held pending second-degree murder charge

ST. JAMES — A 59-year-old St. James man is in custody at the Watonwan County Jail after an alleged June 16 shooting claimed the life of a 43-year-old St. James woman.

Scott F. Engelbrecht is being held pending a second-degree murder charge. Formal charges are pending from the Watonwan County Attorney’s Office, according to a June 18 press release from the St. James Police Department.

Engelbrecht is expected to appear in Watonwan County District Court on June 19, according to Watonwan County Attorney Steve Linde.

Police arrested Engelbrecht for the murder of Rachel E. Linder, 43, St. James, and the attempted murder of Joyce A. Engelbrecht, 67.

At 5:41 p.m., Saturday, June 16, St. James Police received an emergency 911 call to 1124 1st Ave. S. The caller said his grandfather shot his grandmother.

At the residence, police found and arrested Scott Engelbrecht who was carrying a .22 caliber rifle at the time. He was taken into custody without incident.

Linder, the daughter of Joyce Engelbrecht, was found deceased on the front steps of a nearby residence at 1120 1st Ave. S. Her death was ruled a homicide due to a gunshot wound.

Joyce Engelbrecht, the wife of the suspect, appeared to suffer from a gunshot wound. She was transported to Mayo-St. James Health Services, then flown to St. Mary’s Hospital, Rochester. She was listed in critical condition, according to the press release.

The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, the Watonwan County Sheriff’s Office and Madelia Police are assisting with the investigation.

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