Bloomington PD investigating suspicious death, woman in custody

BLOOMINGTON, Minn. (KMSP) - The Bloomington Police Department is investigating a suspicious death at an apartment building Sunday evening. 

At 8 p.m., police responded to the Southgate Apartments on the 8100 block of 12th Avenue South and found a 69-year-old Corrine Gibbs dead in her apartment. 

Gibbs' death is being investigated as suspicious. Police have arrested Donna Mae Bastyr, 46, on pending first-degree murder charges. The two women lived together. 

Meseret Shawo and his family were shocked to learn their neighbor was found dead Sunday inside her home.

“We’re very sad and devastated hearing this kind of news,” Shawo said “We are a little bit worried.”

Bastyr has been in jail before, with a rapsheet including three DWI convictions over the last five years.

“It doesn’t happen here often, but it makes me feel good that we got a person in custody, that we’re continuing to follow strong leads, and that if there are other people that are responsible they’ll also be arrested and ultimately charged,” said Deputy Chief Mike Hartley with Bloomington police.

Police do not believe there is a threat to the public. Police have less than 48 hours to bring formal charged against Bastyr, and if they do, a grand jury will be called to see if the crime fits a first degree murder charge.