Minnesota Man Charged in Fatal 1983 Denton Stabbing

A man who has lived quietly with his wife and children in a Minneapolis suburb for years has been indicted and charged with intentional murder in a slaying that happened more than 30 years ago, authorities said Wednesday.

Robert A. Otteson, 53, was arrested Tuesday in Lakeville, Minnesota, by local authorities and Texas investigators, according to police in Denton, Texas.

Authorities say Otteson was wanted in connection with the death of Francisco Narvaez, a 42-year-old San Antonio man who was found stabbed to death in a Denton motel room in 1983.

The indictment was dated Friday, and his bond has been set at $300,000. He was jailed as an out-of-state fugitive in Minnesota's Dakota County, ahead of a court appearance Thursday.

Online court records didn't list a defense attorney Wednesday afternoon.

Denton police followed tips but said the investigation fizzled. Detectives eventually developed new leads and found new evidence that led to Otteson's indictment, police said in a news release. The statement did not elaborate on the nature of the evidence.

A message left Wednesday at a telephone listing in Otteson's name was not immediately returned.

Court records in Minnesota and Texas show that Otteson has a clean criminal record.

The Associated Press also left messages with a number of Otteson's neighbors, but none was immediately returned Wednesday.

Scott Schultz, who lived across the street from Otteson, told the Minneapolis Star Tribune he's never had any trouble with his neighbor. Otteson often helped fix Schultz's lawnmower and snowblower, he said.

"We didn't hang out a lot, but you could always count on Rob if you needed something," Schultz said.
 

Copyright AP - Associated Press
Contact Us