Hallie Marie Tobler, Daughter of Minnesota Gubernatorial Candidate Jeff Johnson, Stabbed to Death by Husband in St. Cloud

Hallie Marie Tobler, 22, the daughter of Republican Minnesota gubernatorial candidate Jeff Johnson, was stabbed to death Saturday evening in what authorities describe as a botched murder-suicide inside her St. Cloud apartment.

According to the St. Cloud Police Department, officers responded around 8:20 p.m. on Feb. 7 to a reported medical emergency at an apartment in the 3100 block of 40th Avenue South. When officers arrived, they found Hallie deceased with multiple fatal stab wounds and her husband, Dylan Michael Tobler, 23, suffering from life-threatening injuries. The apartment was locked, and the couple was found together inside.

The Midwest Medical Examiner’s Office later confirmed Hallie’s death was caused by multiple stab wounds.

Police say Dylan Tobler is believed to be responsible for Hallie’s injuries and death, as well as his own wounds. He remains hospitalized in stable condition and is currently in police custody. Authorities said once he is released from the hospital, he will be transferred to the Stearns County Jail, where he is expected to face homicide-related charges.

Court records show the couple married in November 2021. In a troubling prior incident, Dylan Tobler pleaded guilty in January to disorderly conduct stemming from a June 2025 domestic violence case in which he choked Hallie.

Hallie Tobler’s death marks the first homicide in St. Cloud in 2026, following five reported homicides in the city last year.

In the wake of the tragedy, Hallie’s father, Jeff Johnson, a former St. Cloud City Council member and declared 2026 Republican candidate for governor, announced he is suspending his campaign. The Republican Party of Minnesota confirmed the decision Monday, citing the devastating loss of his daughter.

The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is assisting with the ongoing investigation. Anyone with information is urged to contact St. Cloud Police at 320-251-1200 or Tri-County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-255-1301.

Hallie Marie Tobler’s death has left a family, a community, and a political circle grieving an unimaginable loss.