Tyler Ecklund, a 25-year-old man from Saint Cloud, MN, was found dead on November 14, 2020, in a vacant lot in the 1000 block of 55th Avenue Southeast in St. Cloud. An autopsy revealed that Ecklund died from a gunshot wound to the head. The investigation into his death involved multiple law enforcement agencies, including the Sherburne County Sheriff's Office, St.
Cloud Police Department, and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.
Ricco Dejon Tyson, aged 43 at the time, was identified as the primary suspect in Ecklund's murder. Tyson was charged with second-degree murder and first- and second-degree manslaughter in connection with Ecklund's death. According to the criminal complaint, Tyson was seen on surveillance video at a pawn shop in the Twin Cities area on November 14, where he sold an audio speaker box that contained what appeared to be tinted vehicle glass and an unknown red-like material. This evidence linked Tyson to the crime scene and the victim's vehicle, which was later found in Minneapolis.
Tyson was arrested on December 9, 2020, and subsequently pleaded guilty to one felony count of second-degree murder without intent while committing a felony. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison on August 4, 2022. The case was prosecuted by the Sherburne County Attorney's Office, and the sentencing provided some measure of closure to Ecklund's family.
