St. Cloud Man Found Competent to Stand Trial in Wife’s Stabbing Death

(KNSI) — A St. Cloud man charged with second-degree murder in the stabbing death of his wife has been found competent to stand trial.

Dylan Michael Tobler, 23, is accused of fatally stabbing his wife, 22-year-old Hallie Marie Tobler, inside their apartment on the 3100 block of 40th Avenue South in February. The criminal complaint says police were first called to the scene on the evening of February 7th after a witness, who had not heard from Hallie since February 3rd, went to check on her. The witness knocked for approximately 15 minutes before the door was unlocked from the inside. Upon entering, the witness found Hallie dead in the bathroom and Dylan in the living room, apparently suffering from self-inflicted stab wounds.

The Stearns County medical examiner determined Hallie sustained multiple wounds. Several knives were recovered from the bathroom, including one believed to be the murder weapon. The manner of death was ruled a homicide.

Court documents say Tobler made several statements to investigators. When asked what happened over the previous several days, he replied, “It’s a mess.” He acknowledged being alone in the apartment with his wife, said he believed it was his fault she was dead, and indicated he caused his own injuries. When asked what would happen next, he said “jail” and tapped himself on the chest.

Tobler appeared in Stearns County District Court in April, where a judge ordered a mental health evaluation before the case could proceed. Tobler has a documented history of mental illness. He has now been found competent to stand trial.

His next court appearance is set for July.

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