A motley man is charged with murder for allegedly killing his girlfriend at their home.

Harold Wassather, 60, was formally charged with second degree murder in Morrison County Court on Tuesday.

Officers reported that while searching Wassather’s residence, they found 66-year-old Christine Nygard dead. Wassather, was later taken into custody and the BCA was called in to assist with the death investigation.

Nygard was transported to the Midwest medical examiner’s office for an autopsy. The sheriff’s office said the cause of his death was blunt force trauma to the head and chest. The manner of death was ruled a homicide.

At approximately 9:40 a.m. on March 6, the Morrison County Sheriff’s Office received a 9-1-1 transfer from a man who said he received a phone call from his friend who said he killed his girlfriend. friend.

The Sheriff’s Office and the Motley Police Department responded to a home located at 689 Highway 10 South in Motley, MN. The police arrived on the scene and were able to make contact with Wassather. Wassather was detained while authorities searched the residence.

Officers say Nygard and Wassather were a couple and lived together in the house where Nygard’s body was found.

Authorities continue to investigate the incident.

Authorities wish to remind the public that they believe this is an isolated incident and that there is no known threat to the public.

“Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family of the victim for this senseless act of violence and to the first responders who investigated and dealt with the scene,” said Morrison County Sheriff Shawn Larsen. “The victim tragically lost his life due to domestic violence, which could have been avoided.”