The beheaded body of a Minnesota woman was found on a sidewalk in Shakopee, a suburb of Minneapolis, on Wednesday.
On Thursday, the Shakopee Police Department identified the victim as 55-year-old America Mafalda Thayer of Shakopee. The police department said they responded to a report of an attack at the intersection of Fourth Avenue and Spencer Street at around 2:31 p.m. on Wednesday.
Shakopee Police announced they have arrested a suspect, 42-year-old Alexis Saborit, also of Shakopee, on suspicion of second-degree murder.
Saborit is being held in the Scott County Jail, pending murder charges.
Shakopee Police Chief Jeff Tate told Bring Me The News that a bystander captured the brutal attack on video and shared it on social media.
“We are aware that a bystander took a video of this incident. We have that video. It is deeply disturbing that the first instinct was to post that on social media,” Tate said. “This woman has a son, has a family and people that care about her and the last place anyone should find out about a tragedy involving a loved one is via social media. Thankfully we were able to apprehend this individual quickly.”
Shakopee Police said, “At this time, investigators believe the suspect knew the victim and this wasn’t a random act.”
According to court records obtained by one Twitter user, Saborit was out on bail at the time of the killing.
“Despite the court’s observation & his defense’s claim that Saborit was mentally ill, he was released on bail. This spring, his conditional release was ordered revoked & a court doc claimed he was a danger to people & community. Judge Richard C. Perkins ordered him released,” the Twitter user said. “Here’s the court record showing the proposed revocation and then Judge Richard C. Perkins’ order for release. Saborit had a hearing scheduled on the arson charge yesterday, in which he was scheduled to appear at just about the time the murder was allegedly committed.”
Saborit’s criminal record includes a gross misdemeanor conviction for domestic assault, a misdemeanor DWI, and misdemeanor obstructing of a peace officer and fleeing a peace officer by means other than a motor vehicle.
