Authorities say a late-summer gathering at a Wabasha County campground turned tragic, and now a Madison man is facing serious felony charges in connection with a Lakeville woman’s death.
Stanley Alan Munstermann, 69, of Madison, was arrested in late February after a Twin Cities woman was found dead inside her camper at Mac’s Park Place campground near Lake Zumbro. Friends went to check on her when she failed to show up for a planned potluck on Aug. 30, 2025, and later court filings say an autopsy ruled the death a homicide. Prosecutors have charged Munstermann with two counts of second-degree murder and one count of first-degree manslaughter.
Evidence From The Scene And The Autopsy
Search warrant affidavits and medical examiner notes describe extensive bruising on the victim’s body, including marks on her neck and petechial bleeding in her eyes. Deputies also reported finding a broken vase beneath the victim’s neck with what appeared to be blood on it. Investigators told reporters they located Munstermann’s DNA on that vase and under several of the victim’s fingernails, details outlined by the Star Tribune. Those findings were cited as key elements in the search affidavits filed in Wabasha County.
What Investigators Say
Court documents and witness accounts sketch a timeline that places Munstermann at the campground the night before the body was discovered. The camper itself was described as being in mild disarray, with a damaged shelf and a bedroom sliding door knocked off its track, the West Central Tribune reports. Neighbors told investigators that Munstermann had been drinking with the victim, and deputies documented scratches on his hands and arms that warrants say are “typical in a struggle between two people.” As part of the probe, investigators pulled phone records and other digital data to reconstruct the hours around the woman’s death.
Video And Records Undercut Suspect’s Account
Campground surveillance footage reportedly shows Munstermann arriving the evening of Aug. 28 and leaving in the early morning hours of Aug. 30. Investigators say that timeline conflicts with his later claim that he “blacked out” and woke up already driving on Interstate 90 near Rochester, according to reporting by KSTP. Court filings also describe unsettling comments Munstermann allegedly made to others, including telling one person he believed he “may have killed someone.” Deputies downloaded data from his phone during the investigation, and authorities say the combination of autopsy findings and both physical and digital evidence led to his arrest.
Case Status And Next Steps
Munstermann was taken into custody on Feb. 26 and was scheduled for arraignment on March 2 in Wabasha County District Court, according to local reports. The Wabasha County Sheriff’s Office has said the case required hundreds of hours of investigative work, and materials are being turned over to the county attorney as the prosecution moves ahead, as reported by the Post Bulletin. Initial court records reviewed by reporters did not list an attorney representing Munstermann.
Legal Implications
The charges filed are felony counts that carry substantial prison time if Munstermann is convicted. He remains presumed innocent while the case proceeds through Wabasha County court. Prosecutors will determine whether to pursue any additional charges as they study the investigative file from the sheriff’s office alongside the medical examiner’s report.
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