Hastings man accused of burning overdose victim’s body

Hastings, MN (KROC-AM News) – A Hastings man has been charged in connection with the discovery of burned human remains in Hastings Park in July.

Dakota County District Attorney Kathy Keena announced today that Timothy Otto, 33, has been charged with second-degree arson and one count related to tampering with a corpse. His conditional bail was set at $150,000.

The allegations stem from a discovery following an emergency response to a fire that destroyed a portable toilet at Jaycees Park along the Mississippi River on July 10. After the fire was extinguished, the The burned body of 30-year-old Kyle Hamilton was found at the scene and it was later determined that there was a fatal amount of methamphetamine and fentanyl in his body.

Investigators later learned that Hamilton had been seen at a property frequented by drug users and that a witness reported seeing Hamilton collapsed in a bedroom occupied by Otto. He later told investigators that Hamilton had died of a drug overdose in his room and that he didn’t know what to do.

Court documents say a witness told investigators that Otto told her he took Hamilton’s body to the park and burned a trash can after placing the victim’s body in the bin.