Kyle Williams indicted on murder charges in connection with Kelly Kocurek murder in Hastings.

By Bruce Karnick
Posted 3/23/23

On Monday, March 30, Dakota County Attorney Kathy Keena announced the indictment of Kyle Steven Williams, 34, of Red Wing in connection with the death of Kelly Jo Marie Kocurek of Hastings on May 23, …

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Kyle Williams indicted on murder charges in connection with Kelly Kocurek murder in Hastings.

Posted

On Monday, March 30, Dakota County Attorney Kathy Keena announced the indictment of Kyle Steven Williams, 34, of Red Wing in connection with the death of Kelly Jo Marie Kocurek of Hastings on May 23, 2021. The press release stated that a Dakota County Grand Jury indicted Williams for one count each of Murder in the First Degree (Domestic Abuse), Murder in the First Degree (Premeditated), and Murder in the Second Degree (With Intent/Not Premeditated).

On May 18, 2021, the Hastings community was shocked to learn of an alleged murder that took place within the city.

Kocurek was staying at the Coratel Inn and Suites on Vermillion Street for a few days waiting to go to an inpatient treatment facility. She called her mother to bring her a suitcase she had left at home. When her mother arrived at the hotel, Kocurek was accompanied by Williams, her boyfriend.

After an exchange where Kocurek’s mother expressed her desire that Williams not be there, the mother left. On the drive home, she received a call from Williams that Kocurek was not breathing, and she rushed back to be with her daughter. Less than a week later, Kocurek was pronounced dead. Her mother reported seeing Kocurek lying motionless in the hospital leading up to her death looking like she had been severely beaten repeatedly with several bruises on her face and neck.

A lengthy autopsy was performed by the Ramsey County Medical Examiner determined that Kocurek’s death was a homicide, and she died from asphyxiation. Notes from the Medical Examiner included details of several injuries that could not be self-inflicted, including facial fractures and facial hemorrhages and hemorrhages in both eyes.

During the initial investigation, witnesses at the hotel reported hearing “wrestling or fighting” before Williams was seen running in the hallway with blood on him.

According to the criminal complaint, Williams had given several different accounts of the events to investigators but had always stuck with the story that Kocurek strangled herself with a cord.

Williams had left the state before charges were filed, and the charge of second-degree murder was issued in October of 2021. The warrant for Williams’s arrest was executed in Arizona and he was returned to Minnesota to stand trial for the homicide of Kocurek.

According to the newest release, the facts and circumstances surrounding this incident are contained in the initial criminal complaint filed in August of 2021, charging Williams with Murder in the Second Degree. The charges in the indictment supersede the prior criminal complaint.

Williams made his first court appearance on the indictment on Monday. His current bail conditions continue to remain in effect ($2,000,000 with conditions). His next court appearance is scheduled for April 4, 2023 at 1:30 p.m. in Hastings.