Fund Set Up For Montevideo Stabbing Victim

MONTEVIDEO, Minn. (WCCO) – A memorial fund has been set up for the 18-year-old woman who was stabbed to death last Friday night in the parking lot of the Pizza Ranch in Montevideo.

Donations to the fund will be used to help the family of Vinessa Lozano pay for her funeral expenses. To donate to the fund, send money to the Montevideo Coop Credit Union, P.O. Box 447, Montevideo, MN 56265.

Lozano was murdered just before 9 p.m. Friday by a 24-year-old man from Montevideo who worked at the Pizza Ranch with her. Darek Nelson admitted to police that he brought his hunting knife to work that day with the intention of killing Lozano.

Nelson stabbed her at least 30 times outside the restaurant in the parking lot. When police arrived to the scene, he was standing over her body with his knife in hand. When given a command to drop his weapon, he complied and was arrested.

Police later said Nelson was infatuated with Lozano but she had turned down his advances towards her. He is likely to face first-degree murder charges.

Lozano leaves behind a young son, who the family said will now never get to know his mother.