Man Accused of Strangling a Sauk Rapids Woman to Death

(KNSI) – A man from St. Loius County is accused of killing a Sauk Rapids woman over the summer.

On August 12th, the Sauk Rapids Police Department was called to an apartment on 10th Avenue Northeast for a woman who was unresponsive and possibly dead. The victim was identified as 38-year-old Victoria Gamble.

According to the criminal complaint, Gamble had been at a bar in Sauk Rapids most of the day on Sunday, August 11th, until shortly after 1:00 a.m. Security footage showed her talking with a man, later identified as 45-year-old Christopher Lee Neal, throughout the evening. A video shows her leaving with Neal, and footage from Gambles' apartment allegedly shows the two walking into the building together.

Police say sometime around 3:00 a.m., Neal is seen leaving the apartment alone. When police responded the next day, the victim's SUV was missing, and so were her keys. On August 18th, police learned Neal was in Louisiana. He was allegedly found at a hotel and using the victim's car. He was arrested on outstanding domestic assault warrants from Aitken County.

On August 22nd, officers interviewed Neal while he was in Louisiana. According to court records, he admitted taking a car and being at a woman's apartment in Sauk Rapids, but said he could not remember her name. He also claimed to have a limited memory of what happened inside the apartment. Neal later said that he did not believe he killed her.

On October 18th, the Midwest Medical Examiner's Office issued a final summary report after conducting an autopsy. The conclusion was Gamble's death was caused by strangulation, and the manner of death was homicide.

Neal is currently in custody in Aitkin County, and a warrant has been issued for him to appear in Benton County District Court on two counts of second-degree murder. He's also charged with unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and theft of a motor vehicle.