Minnesota man accused of hiding 4 corpses in Dunn County finally has an attorney
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By LeAnn R. Ralph
MENOMONIE — An attorney has been found to represent the Minnesota man accused of being a party to the crime of hiding four corpses in northern Dunn County.
Darren L. Osborne, age 59, who also is known by 11 other aliases, appeared in Dunn County Circuit Court before Judge James Peterson September 13 for a status conference.
Osborne is charged with four felony counts of hiding a corpse as a party to a crime, and in a separate case, for which he has not yet made an initial appearance, is charged with two felony counts of substantial battery intending bodily harm and battery by prisoners. Both counts have the modifier of being a repeat offender.
Attorney Brian A. Braziel appeared by video to represent Osborne at the September 13 hearing, according to on-line court records.
At a September 6 court hearing, Osborne did not have an attorney, and the on-line record indicates the Public Defender’s office had contacted dozens of attorneys, trying to find someone to represent Osborne.
During a preliminary hearing in Dunn County Circuit Court April 30, Osborne was represented by attorney Travis Satorius.
Judge Peterson found there was probable cause at the preliminary hearing and bound Osborne over for trial.
During a court hearing May 10, Judge Peterson said he had received a fax message from Osborne stating that Osborne wanted to fire Satorius as his attorney.
Osborne also told the judge during the hearing that he wanted a change of venue because he did not believe he would get a fair trial.
The judge denied Osborne’s request for a change of venue and said there was no basis for a change in venue.
Osborne stated again that he wanted to fire his attorney and asked if the public defenders’ office would appoint another attorney for him.
Judge Peterson relieved Satorius of his responsibility to represent Osborne.
Next one
At a June 14 court hearing, Osborne was represented by attorney Shirlene Perrin.
During a court hearing June 17, Perrin filed a motion for a competency hearing.
On August 9, Judge Peterson found that Osborne was competent to proceed.
Osborne then said he wanted to fire Perrin, and the judge relieved Perrin from her duties.
At an August 15 court hearing, Osborne did not have an attorney to represent him, and at an August 20 court hearing, he still did not have an attorney to represent him.
Even though Osborne did not have an attorney to represent him, he told the judge he wanted a speedy trial, and the judge scheduled a week-long trial for the end of October.
At an August 30 hearing, Osborne still did not have an attorney, nor did he have an attorney at a September 6 hearing.
During the September 13 court hearing, with Braziel as the attorney representing Osborne, Judge Peterson stated that the jury trial scheduled for the end of October would remain on the court calendar — for now.
Judge Peterson set bail for Osborne at $50,000 cash on May 31, and Osborne has remained in custody at the Dunn County Jail since then.
A final pre-trial hearing is scheduled in Dunn County Circuit Court October 9.
Quadruple homicide
Osborne is charged in connection with a quadruple homicide that occurred in Minnesota in September of 2021.
The bodies of the four people who were murdered were left in a vehicle in a corn field in the Town of Sheridan after being shot to death by Antoine D. Suggs, who is Osborne’s son.
Suggs drove the vehicle containing the four bodies, and Osborne accompanied him in another vehicle so Suggs would have a ride back to Minnesota after abandoning the vehicle with the bodies in a corn field.
Suggs and Osborne stopped at the Bridge Stop in Wheeler before proceeding north on state Highway 25.
Osborne told investigators he did not know the victims were in the vehicle his son was driving.
Suggs was convicted by a Ramsey County, Minnesota, jury on four counts of second degree murder (with intent, not premeditated) in March of 2023, and was sentenced in May of 2023 to 103 years in prison.
The victims were Nitosha Lee Flug-Presley (age 30) (found in the front passenger seat of the SUV); Jasmine Christine Sturm (age 31) (rear passenger side); Loyace Foreman III (age 35) (center rear seat); Matthew Isiah Pettus (age 26) (rear driver’s side seat).
