Man Charged With Murder in Babbitt Double Homicide

Updated November 1, 2023:

Babbitt, Minn.  — A man has been charged with two counts of 2nd degree murder in the deaths of a Babbitt couple.

A criminal complaint filed Wednesday identifies the man as Roger Allen Beldo.

He is 53 years old.

The complaint says Beldo told police he killed the couple at their home.

A relative said he had been living with the couple for about a month.

78-year-old Clifford Johnson, and his wife, 79-year-old Christine Johnson, were both found dead early Sunday morning.

The complaint says Beldo told police where they would find the victims.

Clifford Johnson was found in his garage, and his wife was found in her bed.

According to the complaint, Beldo told BCA investigators that the victims, “wanted his section 8 voucher after he was approved, and that the Victims were taking his food stamps. Defendant also stated, ‘I killed them, nothing I can say.'”

The complaint says Beldo told police that he killed the couple with a tire iron and a hammer.

Authorities first became aware of the situation late Saturday evening.  Law enforcement dispatch in Duluth had received several phone calls from a man at the Essentia Health – St. Mary’s emergency room. The complaint says that the man, later identified as Beldo, said he needed help and had done some “really bad things.”

When Duluth police arrived, the complaint says Beldo told an officer that he needed to go to jail because he had killed his two roommates. He gave Duluth police the address in Babbitt.

Babbitt police were notified, and when they searched the Johnson’s home and garage, they found the bodies.

The complaint says that when Beldo was arrested in Duluth, in his pocket he had keys to a car belonging to the couple. The car was later found in West Duluth.

Beldo is charged with two counts of 2nd degree murder “with intent-not premeditated.”

October 30, 2023.

Babbitt Police say a man has been arrested in the deaths of a married couple.

A 54-year-old man is being held in the St. Louis County Jail on probable cause of 2nd degree murder.

In a press release Monday afternoon, the victims were identified as 78-year-old Clifford Johnson, and 79-year-old Christine Johnson. They were husband and wife.

Police said that Duluth police contacted Babbitt authorities on Saturday evening, shortly before midnight. Duluth said their department was in touch with someone who said he had killed his two roommates in Babbitt.

Babbitt officers went to the address and found the couple dead.

Authorities say the man being held had no permanent address and had been living with the Johnson’s temporarily.

Formal charges have not yet been filed by the St. Louis County Attorney’s Office, but are expected in the next few days.

FOX21 does not generally report names of suspects until they have been formally charged.

Babbitt Police Chief Michael McGregor said it appears at this time that the suspect acted alone and that there is no threat to the public.

In a statement, the department said its thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families during this tragic time.

The Babbitt Police Department was assisted by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office, and the Ely and Duluth police departments.

Chief McGregor said the investigation remains active, and that no additional details would be provided until formal charges are filed.