Charges: Convicted felon stabs girlfriend 36 times while fleeing police

A Minnesota man has been charged in the gruesome stabbing of his girlfriend, which happened during a police pursuit in Mankato on Monday.

Dustin Murilla, 33, of Good Thunder, led officers on an alleged methamphetamine-induced police chase, driving chaotically, ignoring traffic lights and stop signs and stabbing his girlfriend 36 times during the incident, according to court documents.

The woman he repeatedly stabbed was in stable condition on Friday after receiving treatment at an intensive care unit.

Court records show that in 2013, Murilla was convicted of second-degree attempted murder after he brutally beat an Owatonna man and left him for dead. He was sentenced on Jan. 8, 2013 and released while under supervision on Sept. 13, 2022, according to the Minnesota Department of Corrections.

According to the criminal complaint, officers went to a residence just before 1:30 p.m Monday. in Mankato on a report of an assault. A witness told authorities that Murilla had been using methamphetamine and that Murilla struck the victim across the face before leaving while driving "crazy."

Murilla was reportedly driving on the sidewalk in the neighborhood, and running stop signs and traffic lights near the intersection of Mound Avenue and Poplar Street.

Police found the suspect vehicle and engaged in a pursuit. Murilla made his way onto Highway 169, reaching speeds up to 80 mph. Officers attempted to use stop sticks but were unsuccessful, after which they chose to end the pursuit.

A short time later, dispatch contacted the Minnesota State Patrol saying they had an open phone line inside the vehicle and were able to track its location. Around the same time, Blue Earth County dispatch received multiple calls reporting crashes and driving complaints.

At one point, a Mankato officer stopped at Washington Elementary School to get children who were playing on the playground to go inside as Murilla continued to drive recklessly through the area. Officers documented "countless people biking, walking, jogging and doing various activities outside" while Murilla drove erratically through the area.

After driving through multiple yards to avoid roads under construction, police lost track of Murilla again.

A short while later, Murilla was spotted going westbound on Madison Avenue before proceeding through the Madison East mall parking lot. According to the complaint, Murilla then headed north on Hope Street and eventually Goodyear Avenue, which is a dead end.

Officers were then advised to "take out" the suspect vehicle, with one officer ramming into it, causing the car to flip over onto its roof and come to a stop. The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension said the officer who rammed the vehicle has been identified as Courtney Walker, a 12-year veteran with the police force. He suffered minor injuries in the crash.

After police shouted commands for both to exit the vehicle, the victim exited "covered in blood." She collapsed once she was outside the vehicle, charges say. The woman confirmed to police that Murillo had slit her throat.

The victim was taken to a local hospital and placed in the ICU. She suffered multiple stab wounds to her "legs, arms, hands, face, back, neck, chest and stomach." The complaint said six of the stab wounds were life-threatening.

A large knife was found inside the vehicle.

Murilla was also taken to a local hospital to treat minor injuries and ultimately released. He is now being held at the Blue Earth County Jail and been charged with numerous felonies.

• First-degree attempted murder
• Second-degree attempted murder
• Kidnapping to commit great bodily harm or terrorize
• First-degree assault causing great bodily harm
• Fleeing a police officer in a motor vehicle

If convicted, Murilla faces a maximum of life in prison. He will make his initial court appearance on June 15.

The BCA said body and dash camera footage is being reviewed as part of the use-of-force investigation.