HOPKINS, Minn — Hopkins Police responded to a disturbance at the Ramsgate Apartment complex on Van Buren Avenue Saturday morning and found a 33-year-old woman dead. Police say they're investigating it as a murder.
The victim's family has identified her as Danicka Bergeson and shared with KARE 11 News the sad story of an abusive relationship they believe led to her death.
Danicka was known to her family as a smart, honest person. The 33-year-old graduated from the University of Minnesota with a degree in animal science. She also spent time as a medic in the U.S. Army, once named Soldier of the Cycle.
"She had a huge smile. Really engaging," said Danicka's father David Bergeson. "Everything with her was always black or white. She knew exactly what was right and wrong. She never broke the rules. She really had a hard time with that."
Danicka's father David said she'd been struggling in recent months with an abusive boyfriend.
"I think she ended up with 17 stitches in her arm from a big slash. And she had stitches in the back of her head from an assault," David said.
According to court documents, the man was charged in April with assaulting Danicka — striking and biting her and telling police he was so intoxicated he didn't know what happened.
He was released from jail the next day, then assaulted Danicka again in May. The criminal complaint says he struck, bit and choked her, and threatened to kill her.
In June, court records show the man pleaded guilty in both cases and as part of his plea deal was released from jail pending his August sentencing.
Just 11 days after his release, Hopkins Police found Danicka dead in her apartment with her boyfriend there in violation of the terms of his release.
Police say he had ingested a potentially poisonous chemical and was briefly hospitalized before being booked at the Hennepin County Jail.
At this time, he has not been charged in Danicka's death, but Hopkins Police say they are investigating it as a homicide.
"We often said we would dread this call because we almost felt we knew it was coming at some point because it repeated itself over and over," David said.
Like so many other domestic abuse victims, Danicka's family said she struggled to leave and often didn't want to report the abuse.
"That was the hard part, just not being able to find a safe place for her," David said.
Now, they are hoping for justice.
The man remains at the Hennepin County Jail pending charges.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence and needs help, call 800-799-7233 or text START to 88788 to be connected with someone from the National Domestic Violence Hotline. The hotline includes more options for support and identifiers of abuse on its website.
For Minnesota residents, Cornerstone MN offers resources and safe housing for domestic abuse survivors and crime victims. Call 1-866-223-1111 or chat online with the crisis hotline.
WATCH MORE ON KARE 11+
Download the free KARE 11+ app for Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV and other smart TV platforms to watch more from KARE 11 anytime! The KARE 11+ app includes live streams of all of KARE 11's newscasts. You'll also find on-demand replays of newscasts; the latest from KARE 11 Investigates, Breaking the News and the Land of 10,000 Stories; exclusive programs like Verify and HeartThreads; and Minnesota sports talk from our partners at Locked On Minnesota.
- Add KARE 11+ on Roku here or by searching for KARE 11 in the Roku Channel Store.
- Add KARE 11+ on Fire TV here or by searching for KARE 11 in the Amazon App Store.
- Learn more about the KARE 11+ app for Apple TV in the Apple App Store.
- Learn more about KARE 11+ here.
Watch more local news:
Watch the latest local news from the Twin Cities and across Minnesota in our YouTube playlist: