Area News | Home | Marketplace | Community

Return to Archived Stories


Paynesville Press - October 10, 2001

St. Martin native killed in stabbing

By Linda Stelling

Paynesville native Ron Kaiser died from stab wounds on Sunday, Sept. 30.

Phillip Michael Knox, 50, of Pleasant Lake was arrested for allegedly stabbing Kaiser, 41, of St. Cloud. Knox is in Stearns County Jail on a $100,000 bond, charged with two counts of second-degree murder. He will appear in Stearns County District Court on Dec. 7.

Kaiser is the son of Math and Ermalinda Kaiser of St. Martin. He is a 1978 graduate of Paynesville Area High School. He worked for the Performance Seed Company in Waite Park and was a member of the St. Martin Catholic Aid Society.

According to Captain Richard Wilson of the St. Cloud Police Department, Kaiser and Knox got into a fight outside of Kaiser's St. Cloud home over comments Knox made about Kaiser's girlfriend. Several witnesses reported Knox swung at Kaiser with a closed fist after pulling something from a back pocket, Wilson said.

Several neighbors tried to stop Kasier's bleeding from his throat, according to the police. He was taken to the St. Coud Hospital where he had surgery. Kaiser was sitting up and speaking following surgery, but he later died of complications at about 11:30 p.m. on Sunday night, Sept. 30.

According to the preliminary autopsy, he bled to death, the police reported. It will probably be six to eight weeks before the final autopsy report is completed, said Wilson.

Police officers searched Knox's home and found a folding knife, which they believe was used to stab Kaiser, added Wilson.

Funeral services were held on Friday, Oct. 5, for Kaiser at the St. Martin Catholic Church. Interment was in the parish cemetery.



Contact the author at paypress@lkdllink.net   •   Return to News Menu

Home | Marketplace | Community