On June 1, 2016, 56-year-old Ricardo John 'Rick' Defiel was found dead in his Fergus Falls, Minnesota, home. Born on November 8, 1959, in St. Paul, Minnesota, Rick graduated from Harding High School in 1978 and served as a military policeman in the U.S. Army at Fort Bliss, Texas. He later worked for Medallion Kitchens and Mid-Am Dairy before joining the City of Fergus Falls in 2000.
Rick was known for his love of family, coaching youth sports, and enjoying outdoor activities like fishing and hunting.
The initial investigation into Rick's death revealed he had suffered massive head trauma consistent with a gunshot wound. His wife, Tamara, called authorities after locking herself in the bathroom, fearing for her life. She reported that their son, 28-year-old Dustin Defiel, had arrived unexpectedly, and shortly thereafter, she heard gunshots. Dustin was later apprehended near Battle Lake, Minnesota, with a camouflage rifle and bloodstains on his clothing and vehicle.
Dustin was charged with second-degree murder, and a psychological examination was ordered to assess his mental state. In September 2016, a grand jury indicted him on first-degree premeditated murder charges. During the trial in February 2017, the jury found Dustin guilty of second-degree murder. However, in a subsequent trial to assess his mental health, he was found not guilty by reason of mental deficiency. As a result, Dustin was committed to the Minnesota Security Hospital in St. Peter for treatment.
