St. Cloud Man Who Admitted to 2018 Murder Finally Facing Trial After Years of Delays

(KNSI) – After years of delay, a St. Cloud man who confessed to strangling a woman to death in his basement will get his day in court.

Daniel Walter Kenning was charged with first and second-degree murder after he walked into the St. Cloud Police Department in September of 2018 and told officers he killed Jennifer Lee Moy because he thought he could resurrect her. Jury selection began Monday, September 8th, in Stearns County District Court for the anticipated three-week trial.

The 45-year-old was found incompetent to stand trial, and criminal proceedings were suspended. During that time, Kenning has been at a mental health facility. He was finally declared competent in December, and a trial was set for Monday, March 3rd. According to court records, on that date, the defense added some last-minute witnesses they intended to call and presented reports that weren’t previously disclosed to prosecutors.

In an email sent to KNSI News from Stearns County Assistant County Attorney Meriel Lester said, “New information learned by the court led to the ordering of a new evaluation related to Kenning’s mental illness defense which necessitated the need for a continuance.”

That’s what led to the trial starting now.

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