Suspect in 2023 St. Cloud Murder Case Ruled Competent to Stand Trial

(KNSI) – The suspect accused of stealing a vehicle from the St. Cloud Area Family YMCA and running down a pedestrian in 2023 will finally stand trial.

Stearns County ordered a third Rule 20 competency exam for 18-year-old Israel Muyaya Madimba back in April. The results were sent to the prosecution and defense teams on June 10th. Judge Heidi Schultz issued an order on Tuesday setting up a hearing on the matter for Thursday afternoon. Although full results for Rule 20 hearings are not released, the case has been allowed to go forward.

Madimba is charged with first degree murder and vehicle theft. The criminal complaint says on April 21st, 2023, Madimba called 911 to tell dispatchers he had run someone over, and then gave a statement admitting to officers he had taken a vehicle key from a locker at the YMCA, went out to the parking lot, found the vehicle, and drove off. He also told investigators he was listening to a song about murder when he saw 70-year-old Norbert Olmscheid walking on the sidewalk near the intersection of 6th and 9th Avenues. Olmscheid had his back to the car, so Madimba was able to slow down and position his vehicle before stepping on the gas.

Olmscheid was taken to CentraCare – St. Cloud Hospital, where he died.

Madimba was 16 at the time, and prosecutors say they can charge a 16 or 17-year-old with first degree murder under the Minnesota Rules of Juvenile Delinquency Procedures directly in District Court, which “has original and exclusive jurisdiction over such offenders when charged with such an offense.” A first degree murder conviction carries a mandatory life sentence.

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