Judge Denies Rochester Man’s Motion to Dismiss Murder Charge
Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - A recent ruling by an Olmsted County judge has cleared the way for a Rochester man to stand trial on charges connected to the apparent drug overdose death of a Rochester woman two years ago.
42-year-old Timothy Loftus is accused of third-degree murder for allegedly supplying the narcotics that allegedly led to the death of 28-year-old Tina Arleth. He also faces a charge of interference with a dead body or scene of death for allegedly dumping the young woman's body in the field east of Rochester, where the remains were discovered by the property owner in June 2022.
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The criminal complaint against Loftus says a hypodermic needle and a small plastic bag containing a pill were found on her badly decomposed remains. Arleth was last seen alive on May 29, 2022 and was reported missing about two weeks later.
The court document says investigators learned that she had been dropped off at Loftus's home on the 29th and a review of cell phone records determined the device remained at his residence until it apparently lost power two days later. The charges also indicate a witness reported that Loftus had confided in him that Arleth had died after he provided her with heroin and fentanyl.
His attorney earlier filed a motion in Olmsted County Court challenging the evidence and requesting a dismissal of the third-degree murder charge. The judge presiding over the case has denied the motion and ruled there is enough evidence, even though much of it is circumstantial, to find sufficient probable cause for proceeding to trial.
Loftus is scheduled to appear in court for a plea hearing next month.
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