A 47-year-old Minnesota woman was arrested over the weekend after allegedly killing her ex-boyfriend by stabbing him “deeply” in the chest, escaping, and then returning to the scene while police were present, saying them she would “kill him again” if given the chance.
Connie Jo Frank was arrested on Sunday and charged with one count of second-degree murder in the death of 47-year-old Willard DeGroat, authorities said.
According to a probable cause affidavit acquired by Law&Crime, officers from the Moorehead Police Department responded to a reported stabbing at a home in the 1000 block of Third Avenue North at about 12:18 a.m. on August 4. The residence is approximately 230 miles northwest of Minneapolis.
When first responders arrived on the site, they discovered an adult male — later identified as DeGroat — with an apparent stab wound to the upper chest. Officers discovered a “kitchen-style knife” in the home and observed that DeGroat had abrasions on his forehead and the top of his head. DeGroat was rushed by emergency care professionals to Sanford Care Center for treatment, but he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival, according to authorities.
Frank’s adult son and another unidentified adult male also reside in the Third Avenue North residence.
The anonymous man informed authorities that he was acquainted with DeGroat and recognized him as Frank’s ex-partner. He said he heard Frank and DeGroat “arguing earlier that night” and then “observed a physical altercation between the two.”
At that moment, the guy claimed he walked upstairs to ask Frank’s son to assist, but when he returned downstairs, DeGroat “had a stab wound to his chest and [Frank] had left the residence.”
Frank’s kid informed investigators that his mother and DeGroat had been dating “on and off” for roughly five years and that he had overheard their verbal altercation. When he walked down and found DeGroat with the stab wound, he stated that he contacted 911.
While officials were on the scene, Frank returned home and was promptly detained for further questioning. During the ride, Frank allegedly made some spontaneous — and incriminating — statements.
“Defendant made several unprompted statements en route to the jail including, ‘I stabbed his a-‘ and ‘I would kill him again,'” according to the indictment.
Frank allegedly told officers she had been dating DeGroat for several years but had recently been staying at her son’s house.
“Defendant stated that the victim had arrived at the apartment earlier and was hammering on the windows. “Defendant stated that she was tired of the defendant and that someone had to end it,'” police reported. “Defendant stated that she grabbed a knife from the kitchen counter and stabbed the Victim once deeply in the chest.”
Frank allegedly claimed she fled the house and hid in her neighbor’s backyard before deciding “to stop hiding and returned to the residence to speak with law enforcement.”
Police examined security footage from a neighbor’s camera and discovered Frank yelling at DeGroat “just before” DeGroat “is heard screaming for someone to call 911 because he was dying.”
Frank is now being imprisoned at Clay County Correctional Facility on a $2 million bond. She is expected to appear in court on the afternoon of August 29.