Jeff Johnson, who dropped out of the Minnesota governor's race after his daughter was found fatally stabbed on Feb. 7, shared a joint statement with his wife about the tragedy
Stearns County Sheriff
NEED TO KNOW
- The parents of Hallie Marie Tobler, a 22-year-old stabbing victim in St. Cloud, Minn., have broken their silence on her violent death
- Hallie’s father, former St. Cloud City Councilmember Jeff Johnson, suspended his 2026 campaign for Minnesota governor soon after her body was found
- Authorities arrested Hallie’s husband, Dylan Michael Tobler, and charged him with second-degree murder
The parents of slain Minnesota woman Hallie Marie Tobler are speaking out after their son-in-law was charged with her murder.
Hallie, 22, was found stabbed to death in her St. Cloud apartment on Saturday, Feb. 7. Her husband, 23-year-old Dylan Michael Tobler, was located in the home with self-inflicted stab wounds and taken to a hospital for treatment. After he was "medically cleared" on Tuesday, Feb. 10, he was arrested and charged with second-degree murder.
Hallie's father, former St. Cloud City Councilmember Jeff Johnson, was in the midst of a gubernatorial campaign when the news broke. The Minnesota Republican Party shared in a statement on Monday, Feb. 9, that Jeff had ended his candidacy "out of respect for his family and the enormity of this loss."
Now, Jeff and his wife, Julie Johnson, have broken their silence about the tragedy, expressing gratitude for everyone who has sent well wishes in recent days and thanking law enforcement for their efforts.
"We are heartbroken beyond words by the tragic and senseless loss of our beloved daughter, Hallie Marie," the Johnsons said in a statement overnight. "Hallie was a bright light in our lives and in the lives of so many others. She was kind, compassionate, and full of promise. The pain of losing her in this way is something no family should ever have to endure, and we are still struggling to comprehend this unimaginable reality."
"In the midst of this tragedy, we also want to acknowledge the importance of mental health support," they continued. "If you or someone you know is struggling, please reach out to a trusted professional, counselor, or local mental health service for help."
"Right now, our focus is on honoring Hallie’s memory and supporting all those whose lives she touched during this devastating loss. We ask that everyone keep our daughter in their thoughts and remember her for the beautiful person she was," the parents added.
Stearns County Sheriff
According to a criminal complaint obtained by PEOPLE, an unnamed witness went to Hallie's apartment on Feb. 7 to check in on her because she had not been heard from for four days. The witness told authorities that they knocked on the door for 15 minutes before it was unlocked from the inside.
Upon entering, the witness allegedly discovered Hallie's body on the bathroom floor with multiple stab wounds on her chest, upper back, neck and head. The witness reported that Hallie's husband, Dylan, was in the living room with stab wounds of his own and had appeared to have tried to kill himself.
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When officers from the St. Cloud Police Department arrived on the scene, they read Dylan his Miranda rights and asked what happened over the past several days, according to the complaint. Dylan allegedly replied, "It's a mess," the complaint states.
The complaint alleges that Dylan told officers he believed he caused Hallie's death, and that he caused his own injuries. "When asked what will happen next, the defendant stated 'jail' and tapped himself on the chest," the complaint says.
Dylan has been charged by the Stearns County Attorney's Office with second-degree murder, "with intent – not premeditated." His is scheduled to appear in court next on Feb. 23.
If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or go to thehotline.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.
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