COKATO, Minnesota – A horrific act of workplace violence has left a community in mourning after a 20-year-old woman was brutally killed by a co-worker inside a food and dairy processing plant in central Minnesota.
According to the Wright County Sheriff’s Office, the deadly assault occurred early Tuesday morning, November 11, at Advanced Process Technologies, located on Swendra Boulevard NE in Cokato. Deputies were called to the facility around 6 a.m. following a 911 report of a woman suffering from severe head trauma and heavy blood loss. Despite desperate lifesaving efforts from first responders, the victim was pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigators say surveillance footage showed 40-year-old David Delong of Watkins, Minnesota, walking to the victim’s workstation, taking a sledgehammer, and striking her multiple times. Delong was arrested at the scene without incident.
Court documents reveal that Delong later confessed to the killing, telling investigators that he did not like the victim and had planned her death for some time. He now faces a charge of second-degree murder, which carries up to 40 years in prison, though prosecutors have indicated that the charge may be upgraded to first-degree murder as the investigation continues.
The victim has been identified as 20-year-old Amber Czech, a talented welder and beloved employee at the facility. Her family described her as hardworking, passionate about her craft, and full of life. “Amber loved her job and the people she worked with,” a family member shared, calling for more awareness about workplace violence.
Former coach and mentor Dennis Piechowski of Hutchinson High School, where Amber graduated, remembered her fondly. “You just kind of tear up a little bit because of who she was,” he said, recalling her as a gifted athlete known for her three-point shooting.
Advanced Process Technologies released a statement expressing heartbreak over the tragedy:
“We are heartbroken by yesterday’s tragedy, and our thoughts are with the victim’s family and friends in this terrible moment. We are also making sure our employees have the support they need and are working closely with law enforcement.”
Production at the facility has been suspended for the rest of the week as employees grieve and investigators continue to search for answers in this senseless and devastating loss.