News of Homicide 'Really Shocking,' Apartment Manager Says

The Oakdale Police Department and Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension are investigating the woman as a homicide, according to a Thursday morning news release from the police department.

The woman was found dead in her apartment at 6276 12th Street at about 9:50 a.m. Wednesday, according to the release.

Oakdale Village Apartments Community Manager Sarah Kohler said the news of the homicide was "really shocking."

"She was a really great resident, really quiet resident," Kohler said, "so it's a pretty big surprise."

Police are not yet releasing the woman’s name, said Oakdale Community Affairs Officer Michelle Stark, and formal identification will be made by the medical examiner.

Police think the woman was targeted, according to the release.

“Circumstances surrounding the death suggest that this is not a random act of violence and the general public is not at any increased risk pending the apprehension of the offender,” the release says.

She was discovered after she didn’t show up for work when scheduled, Stark said.

According to the incident report, another woman had stopped at the apartment to check on the victim and found her unconscious. Police officers found her on the bedroom floor with no pulse, cold to the touch.

News of the death investigation has left residents in the apartment complex scared and looking for answers, Kohler said.

"It's pretty terrifying to have something like this happen in our community," she said. "You don't want to think something like that could happen to your neighbors."

Apartment management is planning a community meeting to give tenants the chance to get together and talk, and to hear the latest information management has on the investigation, Kohler said.

The date of the meeting had not yet been set Thursday afternoon, but Kohler said it would take place on or before Tuesday of next week. Management is trying to decide whether it's better to meet sooner, or wait until police can give them more information to share, she said.

Currently investigators are following several leads, and are not releasing any more information until the medical examiner’s report is completed, according to the release.