4 charged in Northfield-area homicide

Four people are now charged in connection with the death of 55-year-old Chris Jon LaFontaine at his home in Greenvale Township.

According to Dakota County Attorney’s Office, 22-year-old Ryann Elizabeth Smith, of White Bear Lake, 29-year-old Nicholas Alan Taylor, of St. Paul, 25-year-old Stephanie Marie Peabody, of Welch, and 36-year-old Timothy William Tuit, of South St. Paul, were all charged in LaFontaine’s death.

Court documents say Smith was charged with one count of second-degree murder; Taylor was charged with one count of second-degree murder and one count of first-degree burglary, and Peabody and Tuit both are charged with aiding an offender and first-degree burglary.

Tuit made his first court appearance on these charges Monday. Dakota County District Court Judge Karen Asphaug set bail to $400,000 without conditions or $200,000 with conditions. His next court appearance is scheduled for Aug. 5 at 1:30 p.m. in Hastings.

Peabody, Smith and Taylor were charged by warrant complaint last week and have not yet appeared on this case.

On July 2, Dakota County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a reported burglary on Foliage Avenue in Greenvale Township at about 4:45 p.m. A witness reported seeing three people run from the home before deputies arrived. Inside the home, authorities found LaFontaine, already dead.

The sheriff’s office said the victim and the three other men later identified as Tuit, Peabody and Taylor, knew each other and that a dispute led to LaFontaine’s death.