The family of 20-year-old Amber Czech held her funeral this weekend, after her coworker allegedly beat her to death earlier this month.

David Delong, 40, faces second-degree murder charges in her death for allegedly hitting her with a sledgehammer at their workplace, a manufacturing facility in Cokato.

Delong appeared in Wright County court for a hearing Monday. A judge ordered an evaluation of his mental condition and competency to stand trial, at the request of his attorney.

Wright County Attorney Brian Lutes is also putting the case up for consideration for a first-degree murder charge, which carries a possible sentence of life in prison. A grand jury is scheduled to consider it in December.

Prosecutors say Delong told investigators that he didn’t like Czech and had been planning to

See Full Page