A high-profile murder case that has haunted small towns across Wright County is now stuck in neutral. The trial of a Watkins man accused of killing a co-worker with a sledgehammer has been put on indefinite hold after a judge ruled, for the second time, that he is not competent to stand trial.
Judge again finds defendant unfit
Wright County Court has again found that 40-year-old David Delong cannot understand what is happening in court or meaningfully help his lawyers, according to WJON. As a result, the court has paused the case and set another competency review hearing for April, keeping the criminal proceedings on ice until judges decide whether he can be restored to fitness.
What prosecutors say happened at the plant
Delong is charged with first-degree premeditated murder and second-degree intentional murder, court filings and local reporting show, according to FOX 9. CBS Minnesota reported that deputies and Cokato ambulance crews found 20-year-old Amber Czech at her welding station at Advanced Process Technologies, 165 Swendra Blvd NE, with severe head trauma and pronounced her dead at the scene.
Surveillance video and charging documents, as described by FOX 9, say Delong allegedly walked to Czech’s workstation, picked up a sledgehammer and struck her multiple times. Prosecutors say he later told investigators he "didn't like" her and had been planning the attack.
Charges, bail and the court calendar
Wright County Attorney Brian Lutes convened a grand jury that returned indictments on the higher counts, and court records indicate Delong is being held on multimillion-dollar bail, local reporting shows. The latest competency ruling effectively freezes the case while the court again reviews his fitness in April, according to WJON.
Legal next steps
Under Minnesota law, when a judge decides a defendant is incompetent, the criminal case must be put on hold. Courts can order evaluations, treatment or competency-attainment programming before any trial can move forward. The procedures, timelines and reporting rules for these determinations are spelled out in statute and court rule, including how examiners present their findings and how judges handle restoration or alternative outcomes. The framework is detailed in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 611.
Community reaction
Czech’s killing has sparked an outpouring of grief and support for her family, as well as tougher conversations about safety for women in the trades. Reporting from Bring Me The News and other outlets has highlighted vigils, a GoFundMe and public statements from tradeswomen who say the case has drawn fresh attention to broader workplace threats.
