Minnesota Welder Amber Czech Bludgeoned to Death with Sledgehammer by Co-Worker David Delong at Cokato Factory.

Crime Summary

COKATO, Minn. — A horrifying act of workplace violence has shaken the quiet community of Cokato, Minnesota, after a 20-year-old female employee was brutally bludgeoned to death inside a manufacturing plant. The suspect, a 40-year-old male co-worker, allegedly utilized a sledgehammer to commit the crime, later offering a chillingly trivial motive to investigators: he simply “didn’t like her.”

The incident occurred on the morning of Tuesday, November 11, 2025, at Advanced Process Technologies (APT), a facility specializing in equipment for the food and dairy industry. Law enforcement officials report that deputies from the Wright County Sheriff’s Office responded to a 911 call at approximately 6:00 a.m. reporting a medical emergency. The caller indicated that an employee had suffered “significant head trauma” and was bleeding profusely at her workstation.

Upon arrival, first responders discovered the victim, identified as Amber Mary Czech, suffering from catastrophic injuries. Despite immediate life-saving attempts by paramedics, Czech was pronounced dead at the scene. Near her body lay a bloody sledgehammer, the apparent weapon used in the assault.

The suspect, identified as David Bruce Delong of Watkins, Minnesota, was still on the premises. According to the criminal complaint filed by Wright County Attorney Brian Lutes, Delong made a spontaneous confession to another employee at the scene, stating, “I hit her with your hammer. She is by your toolbox. She is gone.”

The Investigation and Surveillance Footage

Investigators quickly secured surveillance footage from the interior of the APT facility, which provided a graphic and undeniable account of the attack. The video allegedly shows Delong leaving his own workstation and walking directly toward Czech’s area. He is seen grabbing a sledgehammer from a nearby toolbox before approaching the victim.

The footage reportedly captures Delong swinging the heavy tool, striking Czech in the head. As she fell to the concrete floor, the suspect allegedly continued the assault, striking her approximately four more times. The brutality of the attack suggests a level of rage that stands in stark contrast to the suspect’s calm demeanor following the event.

Delong surrendered to deputies without incident. In subsequent interviews with detectives, he reportedly waived his Miranda rights and provided a full confession. When asked for a motive, Delong told police he had “planned to kill her for some time” because he “didn’t like her.” There is no evidence yet released suggesting a romantic relationship or a specific workplace dispute that triggered the event, leaving the community to grapple with the senseless nature of the violence.

Legal Proceedings

David Delong was formally charged with Second-Degree Intentional Murder on Wednesday, November 12. Wright County Attorney Brian Lutes has publicly stated that he is reviewing the evidence to potentially upgrade the charges to First-Degree Premeditated Murder.

“I will evaluate this case for a possible charge of 1st degree premeditated murder which requires convening a grand jury,” Lutes said in a press statement. A conviction for first-degree murder in Minnesota carries a mandatory sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole.

During his initial court appearance, a judge set Delong’s bail at $2 million. He remains in custody at the Wright County Jail. His next court appearance is scheduled for November 24, 2025.

Community Mourns a “Rising Star”

The victim, Amber Czech, is being remembered as a talented and driven young woman who had broken barriers in a male-dominated trade. A resident of Hutchinson, Minnesota, Czech was a 2024 graduate of the welding technology program at Alexandria Technical & Community College. Her instructors and peers described her as a standout student with a natural aptitude for the craft.

“She was an amazing welder, great at her job, and loved going to work every day,” her family said in a statement to local media.

Before her career in the trades, Czech was a known athlete at Hutchinson High School, recognized for her skills on the basketball court as a three-point shooter. The loss has devastated her former coaches, classmates, and neighbors.

A fundraiser held at a local Culver’s restaurant in Hutchinson on Monday night drew hundreds of cars, with the line stretching over a mile. The community raised thousands of dollars in just a few hours to support the Czech family with funeral expenses.

“It’s unimaginable to know there is evil like that in this world,” said Shannon Visser, a longtime family friend. “Amber had big dreams. She was just starting her life.”

Suspect’s Troubling Background

While Delong does not appear to have an extensive violent criminal history prior to this event, reports have surfaced regarding his estrangement from his own family. A statement attributed to a relative on social media indicated that Delong’s family had cut off contact with him years ago due to unspecified “safety concerns.” This detail, if corroborated, may play a significant role in the prosecution’s case for premeditation and dangerousness.

Advanced Process Technologies paused production for the remainder of the week to allow employees to grieve and has offered counseling services to its staff. “We are heartbroken by yesterday’s tragedy, and our thoughts are with the victim’s family and friends in this terrible moment,” the company said in a released statement.

As the investigation continues, the focus remains on the terrifying question of how a workplace grievance—or perhaps simply a dark, internal fixation—could escalate into such a calculated and brutal execution.

The Crime

• Nature of Incident: Workplace Homicide (Blunt Force Trauma).
• Method: The perpetrator utilized a heavy sledgehammer, striking the victim multiple times in the head.
• Location: Advanced Process Technologies (APT), 165 Swendra Blvd NE, Cokato, Minnesota (Wright County).
• Date: Tuesday, November 11, 2025.
• Time: Approximately 6:00 a.m. CST.
• Investigating Agency: Wright County Sheriff’s Office; Wright County Attorney’s Office.

Suspect

• Name: David Bruce Delong
• Age: 40
• Residence: Watkins, Minnesota

Legal Status:

• Charges:
  • Current: Second-Degree Intentional Murder (Minnesota Statute 609.19.1(1)).
  • Pending Review: First-Degree Premeditated Murder.
• Bond Amount: $2,000,000 (Unconditional).
• Plea: Not entered (Confession provided to police).
• Conviction: Pending trial.
• Sentence: Pending trial (Facing up to 40 years for 2nd Degree; Life without parole if upgraded to 1st Degree).
• Outcome: Currently incarcerated at Wright County Jail awaiting next hearing on Nov 24, 2025.

Victim

• Name: Amber Mary Czech
• Age: 20
• Residence: Hutchinson, Minnesota
• Occupation: Welder / Fabricator
• Background: Graduate of Alexandria Technical & Community College (Welding Technology, Class of 2024). Former Hutchinson High School basketball player. Remembered as a skilled tradeswoman and beloved daughter.

Thoughts

There is something uniquely chilling about the banality of David Delong’s confession. In the annals of true crime, we are used to crimes of passion, financial desperation, or convoluted revenge plots. But “I just didn’t like her”? That is the dialogue of a sociopath stripped of all social veneer. It turns the workplace—a mundane setting of fluorescent lights and clock-ins—into a hunting ground where mere annoyance is a capital offense.

He didn’t just snap; he walked to a toolbox, selected a medieval siege weapon, and executed a 20-year-old woman because her existence irked him. It’s a grim reminder that for some, the distance between “antisocial” and “monster” is shorter than the walk from the breakroom to the shop floor. The $2 million bond feels like a formality; society doesn’t have a place for people who solve interpersonal friction with a sledgehammer. Enjoy the concrete walls, David. I hear they’re very quiet.