Subject of Bloomington manhunt charged in Crookston murder

CROOKSTON, Minn. (KMSP) - The subject of a large scale manhunt in Bloomington, Minn., Wednesday night was charged with three counts of second-degree murder Thursday for allegedly killing a woman in Crookston, Minn., according to a release. 

Shots were fired by a Bureau of Criminal Investigation agent near the corner of 86th Street East and Oakland Avenue in Bloomington just after 9:00 p.m. BCA officials said Special Agent in Charge Scott Mueller discharged his weapon as he attempted to approach 49-year-old Eddie Markeith Frazier, who was in a car at the time.

Police said Frazier drove away and they later found his car abandoned a few blocks away--starting a frantic, six-hour manhunt that lasted late into the night. 

Crookston Police had sent out a notice earlier in the day looking for information about Frazier's whereabouts, believing he was headed to the Twin Cities area and had information about the death of 48-year-old Tawna Rene Wallace. The two shared a home, though Frazier was restricted from having contact with her under a conditional release issued from Hennepin County District Court last July. 

A criminal complaint says police found Wallace dead--naked and submerged in a bathtub--Wednesday morning after receiving a 911 hang up phone call, with witnesses connecting Frazier to the incident. 

One witness told police Frazier allegedly told someone "I killed the b---- and left her for dead in the tub." He also allegedly sent a Snapchat to another witness saying he had "choked out" the victim.

According to the complaint, Wallace's sister told police Frazier apologized to her and that he and Wallace had gotten into an argument while drinking and getting "high." She also said her sister had stabbed Frazier before he allegedly killed her in the bathroom. 

More interviews with witnesses and court records seem to reveal Frazier had a long history of domestic violence, with Frazier allegedly "smacking" Wallace a couple times and locking her in a closet a week or two earlier--despite the standing no contact order.

After discovering Wallace's body detectives got a court order to "ping" Frazier's cell phone, which was in the Twin Cities area, leading them to put out the notice.

Each count of second-degree murder carries with it a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison.