Man accused of beating, choking woman dies

A man accused of attacking and choking a woman has died.

A judge said he was too weak to defend himself and that the woman suffered a broken nose and mouth.

The man, identified as Kevin Thomas, 53, was arrested last week.

A medical examiner said he died Monday morning.

A warrant was issued for his arrest in St. Cloud County and the St. Paul Police Department said in a statement that officers were notified about his death.

The police department did not provide a cause of death.

Thomas was charged with second-degree murder in connection with the Jan. 12 incident at a home in the 300 block of East Ninth Street.

The woman’s family said she suffered a fractured skull, a fractured rib and a fractured cheekbone.

They said she had been with Thomas for several months and had recently been out of work.

The arrest warrant says Thomas was in the area to buy a new gun for a friend, but police said that wasn’t the case.

Thomas also had been arrested on suspicion of aggravated assault, disorderly conduct and drug possession.

Police said he had been staying at a friend’s home in St Paul when he attacked the woman.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.