South St. Paul Man Found Guilty Of 1st, 2nd-Degree Murder
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – A jury found a 59-year-old South St. Paul man guilty of murder Wednesday in the stabbing death of a woman last summer.
The Dakota County Attorney's Office says that jurors deliberated for eight hours before finding Thomas Michael Luby guilty of first-degree murder and second-degree murder in the Aug. 7 death of Kelly Ann Anderson.
According to a criminal complaint, officers responded to a 911 call early that morning from Luby. He told dispatchers that there was a dead woman in his house and that he killed her in self-defense.
When officers arrived at the home, they found Luby covered in dried blood and Anderson lying in the living room face up with a large knife in her hand. The South St. Paul woman had visible wounds on her body and neck.
According to the Hennepin County Medical Examiner's Office, the 45-year-old died from a stab wounds to her jugular vein and carotid artery. She also suffered several other wounds to her mouth and face.
After being arrested, Luby told police that he and Anderson had been drinking and had gotten into a fight. He denied placing the knife in Anderson's hand.
Luby is slated to be sentenced on May 2.