Man accused of Moorhead murder enters Alford plea

On October 11, 2024By Yukito

MOORHEAD, Minn. (Valley News Live) – The man accused in a brutal and deadly 2023 assault in Moorhead has pleaded guilty.

At his Oct. 10 hearing, Douglas Swenson entered an Alford plea, a type of guilty plea in which he does not admit to committing a crime but admits there is enough evidence to be convicted.

Swenson is charged with second-degree murder in an assault that occurred on March 9, 2023. Moorhead police responded to a residence in the 3300 block of 12th Street South in reference to a disturbance around 11:30 p.m.

Court records show that when officers arrived on the scene, Swenson had opened the door slightly and appeared to have blood on his eyebrows and hands. He finally opened the door all the way, and Swenson allegedly told officers, “Go ahead, come on, I killed him, go ahead, he’s dead, go ahead, go ahead.”

Moorhead police say Swenson refused to obey the officer’s commands and was Tasered to obtain compliance.

According to the autopsy, the victim, Dustin Momerak, suffered multiple sharp and blunt force injuries to his head and neck, as well as numerous bruises to his body. Momerak suffered several broken facial bones, a fractured skull and broken ribs. The manner of death was listed as homicide.

The verdict in the Swenson case will be announced on December 2.