The slain daughter of Republican Minnesota gubernatorial candidate Jeff Johnson was allegedly choked by her husband seven months before he was arrested for the botched murder-suicide, court records show.
Hallie Marie Tobler, 22, who was found dead with multiple stab wounds in her locked St. Cloud apartment over the weekend, told police that her husband, Dylan Michael Tobler, 23, attacked her during a violent outburst on June 19, 2025.
Tobler told officers conducting a welfare check that Dylan choked her while he was “having delusions,” telling officers that her husband of five years had a “history of aggressive behavior,” according to the complaint filed in Minnesota’s 7th Judicial District.
Tobler claimed Dylan suffered from psychosis, a term describing a collection of symptoms a person goes under while having trouble telling the difference between fantasy and reality.
During the incident, Tobler said her husband also made “vague suicide threats about not having to be here anymore,” the records state.
The defendant also yelled and spoke in a manner that “wasn’t making any sense” to his frightened wife, with Tobler also destroying a picture frame and ripping up the inside photo, according to St. Cloud Police.
Dylan, who pleaded guilty, was ultimately convicted of disorderly conduct, a petty misdemeanor, and ordered to pay a $150 fine on Jan. 28, 2026.
Dylan, who is now in stable condition, has been taken into police custody and is expected to be hit with homicide charges in connection with Tobler’s death following his release from the hospital, police said.
The tragedy led Johnson to suspend his 2026 campaign for governor of Minnesota, the Minnesota Republican Party said in a statement Monday.
“There are no words that can adequately express the sorrow we feel for Jeff and his family. The loss of a child is unimaginable, and our thoughts and prayers are with them as they grieve this devastating tragedy,” the statement said.
“Out of respect for his family and the enormity of this loss, Jeff has suspended his campaign for Governor of Minnesota. We ask all Minnesotans to join us in lifting up the Johnson family during this incredibly painful time.”
The Johnsons could not be immediately reached for comment.
If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1.800.799.SAFE (7233) or text START to 88788.