Moorhead man pleads guilty to murdering half-brother – InForum

MOORHEAD — The man accused of “peculiar cruelty” in the killing of his half-brother in Moorhead last spring reached a plea deal with county prosecutors in the case and pleaded guilty in accordance with Alford just days before the start of his trial. .

An Alford plea allows a defendant to acknowledge that there is enough evidence to find them guilty without admitting wrongdoing.

Earlier this week, Clay County Judge Tammy Merkins agreed to allow prosecutors to seek a waiver of the maximum 40-year prison sentence handed down to Douglas Swenson, 27, in the murder of Dustin Momerak, on March 9, 2023, in Moorhead.

Court documents filed in the case say Momerak’s body was “mutilated, bludgeoned and nearly decapitated,” and prosecutors provided additional details in court Thursday (Oct. 10) about the nature of his death.

As part of the plea deal, prosecutors agreed they would not seek additional time beyond the maximum for intentional second-degree murder without premeditation.

Police first went to the apartment Swenson and Momerak shared in the 3300 block of South 12th Street for reports of a disturbance. The officers asked if they could come in, but Swenson became upset before opening the door. He was not wearing any clothes and had blood on his hands and feet, the criminal complaint filed against him states.

In court Thursday, County Attorney Brian Melton said Swenson made incriminating statements to officers at the scene that night and that neighbors told police they heard someone screaming : “You deserve to die” before the police arrive. Melton said a large television was found on Momerak’s body with blood on it and a bloody serrated bread knife was found nearby.

Melton said Swenson’s defense attorneys were prepared to assert self-defense and manslaughter defenses at trial, but Swenson waived that right by accepting Alford’s plea.

Sentencing is scheduled for December 2. Melton suggested prosecutors would likely seek the highest prison sentence for Swenson, while Swenson’s attorneys, Tracy Reames and Nicole Bredahl, would argue for the lowest sentence in the guideline range.

Merkins ordered that a pre-sentence investigation report be submitted to the court prior to sentencing.