BABBITT — The St. Louis County Attorney's Office has filed second-degree murder charges again a man who allegedly killed the married couple he was staying with in Babbitt.
Facing the felonies is 54-year-old Roger Allen Beldo.
According to the criminal complaint, Beldo called 911 dispatchers himself and said he wanted to go to jail because he'd done some "really bad things." When law enforcement arrived, Beldo eventually told them he'd killed his two roommates in Babbitt using a tire iron and a hammer.
Babbitt police officers responded to the address and found 79-year-old Christine Johnson and 78-year-old Clifford Johnson dead inside their home.
Charges were filed Wednesday in St. Louis County District Court.
The victims' granddaughter told police Beldo had been living with the couple for at least a month.
Beldo told police he had no vehicle, no home and no income aside from nutrition assistance and was awaiting approval for Section 8 housing.
He remains in custody in St. Louis County.
-
Contributed/Seth Trobec via KAXE-KBXE Season Watch Facebook groupEarly reports indicate most of the damage was in the Merrifield area. Tornado sightings were also reported near Casino, Lake Shore and Nisswa, which may be the same twister. -
Contributed/Artist'Lotus' by Little Simz is KAXE's Album of the Week for June 16-22, 2025. -
Lorie Shaull/KAXEAn estimated 2,000 rallied in Brainerd, while an estimated 1,000 rallied in Bemidji and Grand Rapids, despite warnings about large gatherings in light of Rep. Hortman's assassination. -
Megan Buffington/KAXEUniversity of Minnesota Twin Cities rising senior Dani Faher will spend two months covering Northern Minnesota with the KAXE News Team. -
Lorie Shaull/KAXERep. Melissa Hortman served as Minnesota House speaker from 2019 to early 2025, when she was named Speaker Emerita under a power-sharing agreement. -
Contributed/MSHSLThe Rebels beat New Ulm Cathedral 15-7 in the 2025 Minnesota State High School League championship Saturday at Target Field. The win caps off a great sports year for the school. -
Contributed/University of Minnesota Press"Kitchens of Hope" tells Minnesota immigrants culinary journeys and is as rich in recipes as it is in stories. -
Contributed/Stephen Maturen/Getty Image North AmericaThe arrest comes after a 43-hour manhunt — the largest in state history, according to Brooklyn Park Police Chief Mark Bruley. -
A lifelong Crane Laker shows off the area and reflects on the community's history with Voyageurs National Park just before the Crane Lake Visitor Center opens. -
Lorie Shaull/KAXEA man impersonating a police officer shot Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband in their Brooklyn Park home. Sen. John Hoffman and his wife were also shot multiple times.
