Pine River Man Charged In Cass County Murder

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – A 28-year-old Pine River man is accused of killing another man and burning his remains earlier this month, according to charges filed Monday in Cass County Court.

Dane Joseph Riley was charged with second-degree intentional murder and interference with a dead body in connection with the July 14 incident.

According to a criminal complaint, the Cass County Sheriff's Office was contacted on July 20 on a report of a missing person. The victim hadn't been seen since July 13, and an investigation revealed Riley had picked the victim up in the early-morning hours of July 14.

The complaint states an adult female staying at Riley's residence woke up to the sound of two gunshots on July 14. The woman went outside and saw Riley on top of the victim, striking him in the chest. She could hear the victim begging Riley to stop and she screamed. Riley then ordered her back into their trailer.

A short time later, Riley went into the trailer and told the woman not to say anything about what she had seen.

Officers were later alerted to a burn pit near the residence, where they found human remains and charred clothing, according to the complaint. There were two separate areas where officers discovered pits that had been excavated, where the victim's remains were found.

Riley is currently in the Cass County Jail on a $1 million bond. He is set to appear in court on Aug. 13.