A Minnesota man named David Bruce DeLong is accused of planning and carrying out a brutal attack on a co-worker with a sledgehammer, all because he allegedly didn’t like her. Prosecutors outlined the horrific attack in graphic detail in a criminal complaint.
The victim, Amber Czech, 20, was from Hutchinson, Minnesota, according to WCNC. DeLong worked with Czech at Advanced Process Technologies in Cokato, Minnesota, a food and dairy processing facility, CBS News reported.
Czech’s family described her as “an amazing welder, great at her job, and loved going to work every day.” They also expressed a desire to raise awareness of workplace violence.
“I filed a criminal complaint in Wright County District Court this morning charging David Bruce DeLong with 2nd degree intentional murder for the tragic murder of an adult female that occurred at a business in Cokato on November 11, 2025,” prosecutor Brian Lutes wrote in a November 12 press release. “The defendant and victim were co-workers at the business,” he added. “I will evaluate this case for a possible charge of 1st degree premeditated murder which requires convening a grand jury.”
### Details of the Attack
According to the criminal complaint, on November 11, 2025, at 6 a.m., Wright County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Thompson responded to a 911 call reporting an injured adult female at Advanced Process Technologies, located at 165 Swendra Boulevard NE in Cokato.
The investigation revealed that the victim, later identified as Amber Czech, was an employee of the company. The reporting party stated that the victim had sustained major head trauma with significant blood loss.
A bloody sledgehammer was observed on the floor near the victim. Despite receiving medical care, Czech died from blunt force trauma to the head and the resulting blood loss.
The complaint identifies David Bruce DeLong, also an employee of Advanced Process Technologies, as the suspect in the attack. According to the complaint, DeLong told a witness, “I hit her with your hammer, she is by your toolbox, she is gone.”
### Surveillance Footage Evidence
Surveillance video from the company shows DeLong leaving his workstation and walking to the victim’s workstation while wearing gloves. The footage shows him grabbing a sledgehammer from the victim’s area and swinging it at her.
The first swing was horizontal, consistent with the victim standing. The video then captured DeLong swinging the sledgehammer four more times in a downward motion, consistent with the victim being on the ground.
The victim was found on the cement floor near her workstation with severe head trauma and significant blood loss. Investigators concluded that DeLong struck her first while she was standing and then delivered multiple blows after she fell.
### Confession and Charges
DeLong provided a statement to law enforcement after being advised of his rights, confessing to killing the victim. He admitted that he intended to kill her and said he did not like her. He also admitted that he had been planning to kill her for some time.
### Company Response
Advanced Process Technologies released a statement to CBS News expressing their heartbreak over the tragedy:
“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. Production at the facility has been paused for the remainder of the week, and administrative staff are working remotely.”
—
The case remains under investigation, with prosecutors considering upgrading charges to 1st degree premeditated murder.
https://www.complex.com/life/a/jessica-mcbride/david-delong-amber-czech-allegedly-killed-co-worker-with-sledgehammer