Second pre-trial conference scheduled for Olivia murder suspect

A settlement conference took place in Renville County District Court Wednesday for an Olivia man man charged with third degree murder for the drug-related death of a woman this past summer.

Bradley Westphal, age 37, made his first appearance in Renville County District Court on Christmas Eve, and unconditional bail was set at $300,000.

Officials say during the early morning hours of July 19th, Westphal gave the victim pills believed to be Percocet. She took the pills, and 15 to 20 minutes later she became sleepy and began gasping for air. She told Westphal to call 911, but a witness said he refused, removed the drugs and paraphernalia from the residence, made phone calls and sent a Facebook message.

Law enforcement later arrived and found the woman without a pulse and not breathing. She died shortly afterward at the hospital. An investigation later showed the pills contained Fentanyl, not Percocet.

Westphal appeared before Judge Laurence Stratton Wednesday, and another settlement conference was set for March 14th.

(JP Cola, KWLM)