DAKOTA COUNTY, Minn. (TCN) — A 25-year-old woman stands accused of killing a 70-year-old man during an argument, wrapping his body in tarps and carpet, and having an accomplice move the remains to a shed in Minneapolis.
According to the Dakota County Attorney’s Office, on July 18, Josephine Powers called the Burnsville Police Department regarding a shooting that had occurred July 9. Powers lives with her father, who was away on a two-week vacation at the time of the incident, the criminal complaint alleges.
The father reportedly told authorities he returned home to find splatters of brown paint throughout the residence. On July 16, the father allegedly saw a man in his home wearing a hazmat suit, cleaning up the paint and removing carpet pieces from the basement floor.
Police searched the home and found evidence of blood in the garage, downstairs hallway, downstairs bedroom, and the stairs from the garage to the basement. Authorities also reportedly discovered an apparent bullet hole in the basement bedroom.
According to the complaint, Powers told police a man had shot the victim, Michael Ricco. However, investigators later identified Powers as the primary suspect in the shooting.
Another witness told police Powers and the victim began arguing, and Powers threw objects at Ricco before allegedly pulling out a gun and shooting the victim.
According to the complaint, Powers told police another individual, identified as Christopher Hawkins, helped moved Ricco’s remains out of the residence and to his home in Minneapolis. Powers also said the body had been placed in a container with tarps.
Authorities executed a search warrant at Hawkins’ home in Minneapolis and found a shed with tarps matching Powers’ statement. Inside the shed, officers reportedly discovered a container with human remains. According to the complaint, investigators determined the victim died of a single gunshot wound to the head, and his death was ruled a homicide.
Following the discovery, police interviewed Hawkins, who said he was hired a few days prior to move a package from Powers’ home in exchange for a truck. Once Hawkins arrived at the residence, he reportedly noticed blood throughout the downstairs area.
According to the complaint, Hawkins said Powers told him a guy was “f—ing with her and she could not take it anymore, so she shot him.”
Powers reportedly showed Hawkins the body at the bottom of the stairs, which had been wrapped in tarps and carpet. Powers and Hawkins allegedly cleaned up the blood.
Powers faces a charge of second-degree intentional murder. Her bail was set at $1 million, and she is set to appear in court on Aug. 1.
Hawkins remains held in the Hennepin County Jail on a separate charge of third-degree burglary, but he will face charges in Dakota County once he is released.