Amber Mary Czech, a 20‑year‑old from Hutchinson, Minnesota, was tragically killed on November 11, 2025, in Cokato, Minnesota, after a co‑worker attacked her with a sledgehammer at her workplace.
The suspect in this tragic news is David Bruce DeLong, a 40-year-old man from Watkins, Minnesota.
Surveillance footage showed him walking from his workstation to hers, swinging once while she was standing and four more times after she fell.
Wright County Attorney Brian Lutes has released a statement and charging documents in the case against David Bruce Delong, who charged with 2nd degree murder Nov. 11 in Cokato. WARNING: Some of the details in the court filing are very disturbing: https://t.co/7PVD4BX4LO pic.twitter.com/JSsIvfWNid
— Wright County, MN (@WrightCountyMN) November 12, 2025
A co‑worker later recalled DeLong saying,
I hit her with your hammer. She is by your toolbox. She is gone.
Emergency responders arrived quickly but declared Amber dead at the scene.
After his arrest, DeLong confessed to authorities that he didn’t like her and had been planning to kill her for some time.
He has been charged with second‑degree murder in Wright County District Court, with bail set at $2 million and a court appearance scheduled for November 24.
Amber Mary Czech Was Not Only A Dedicated Welder But Also A Former Hutchinson HS Basketball Player!
Amber Czech was remembered by her family as a hardworking young woman who loved her job as a welder.
Beyond that, she was a standout student and athlete at Hutchinson High School.
Her former advisor and assistant basketball coach, Dennis Piechowski, recalled her passion for welding and her talent on the court.
He last spoke with her in August and fondly remembered joking with her about safety at work.
Amber’s passing in such a tragic act of workplace violence has left her family, friends, and community heartbroken.
Advanced Process Technologies expressed heartbreak over the tragedy, saying:
We are heartbroken by yesterday’s tragedy, and our thoughts are with the victim’s family and friends in this terrible moment. We are also making sure our employees have the support they need and working closely with law enforcement as they continue their investigation.
Moreover, they announced the production halt for the week and allowed administrative staff to work remotely.
On the other hand, Amber’s family described her as an “amazing welder” who loved her job and went to work every day with pride.
Additionally, they pointed out that they want her story to raise awareness about workplace violence.
