Suspect Charged In Osakis Woman Killing

ALEXANDRIA (AP) - An Alexandria man is charged with killing an Osakis woman who came upon him as he allegedly burglarized her home.

Prosecutors charged 52-year-old Jeffery Brooks with second-degree murder Tuesday. Brooks was arrested last Friday.

Brooks is accused of killing 51-year-old Diane Fortenberry on May 20 after she came home on a lunch break to let her dog out.

Investigators recovered a number of items belonging to Fortenberry in a trash bin in Alexandria, including a plastic bag with Fortenberry's bloody shoes inside. A fingerprint found on the bag was determined to be from Brooks' right thumb.

Police say Brooks has been employed at Long Prairie Packing Plant since last November. A common route for Brooks to take from his home to the packing plant would take him past Fortenberry's home.

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