Minn. woman accused of hiding machete used in beheading

Published 10:47 am Friday, July 1, 2016

GRAND RAPIDS — A Minnesota woman was charged Thursday with hiding a machete her boyfriend allegedly used to decapitate a man she said raped her.

Prosecutors charged the 22-year-old woman with being an accomplice to second-degree murder after the fact and with third-degree assault, both felonies. Her bail was set at $2 million without conditions, the same as her boyfriend’s.

She’s accused of tying up and beating David Haiman, breaking his nose, after he arrived at the Grand Rapids apartment she shared with Joseph Thoresen, 35. She untied him, then Thoresen punched him repeatedly, the complaint said.

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Prosecutors allege Thoresen later ambushed Haiman along a road near Ball Club and used a machete to decapitate the 20-year-old Hibbing man. Authorities found Haiman’s torso and head Sunday. The woman allegedly hid the machete in the couple’s apartment.

According to the complaint in Itasca County, the woman had told Thoresen that Haiman had sexually assaulted her.

The Associated Press generally doesn’t name people who say they’re victims of sexual abuse. Her attorney didn’t return a phone message seeking comment.

Thoresen is charged with murder. His attorney, Darla Nubson, declined to comment.

Itasca County sheriff’s investigator Mark Weller told the Minneapolis Star Tribune that he “can’t confirm or deny” whether the sexual assault occurred.

“We are looking into that,” Weller said.

Both Thoresen and his girlfriend remained in jail Thursday. They are due in court Tuesday.