A 26-year-old Isanti man was sentenced to 90 months, or 7 1/2 years, in prison followed by 44 months (three years, eight months) of supervised release for supplying the drugs that killed a rural Cambridge man in January 2022.
Danny Carl Croon Jr. was found guilty of third-degree murder and sentenced by 10th Judicial District Judge Amy R. Brosnahan on Thursday, Feb. 15.
The charges stem from the Jan. 8, 2022, death of Alex John Kotzenmacher, who died after consuming fentanyl-laced drugs that were supplied by Croon.
According to Minnesota state statutes, the killing of a human being by directly or indirectly providing the victim with drugs is classified as third-degree murder. Croon faced a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison, a fine of up to $40,000, or both.
Minnesota is one of only three states that offers a third-degree murder charge.
According to court records, on the evening of Jan. 7, 2022, Kotzenmacher had consumed several beers at the Isanti VFW when he returned from the bathroom, tripped on a barstool and hit his head on a pinball machine. He was taken to Cambridge Medical Center for evaluation, and after exhibiting no signs of a head injury, was taken to his father’s home.
The next morning his father discovered Kotzenmacher dead in his bedroom. At the scene, investigators found a bag of pills identified as oxycodone. A post-mortem examination of the oxycodone revealed that the drugs were laced with fentanyl.
Fentanyl, when taken in excess, can cause slowed or stopped breathing, dangerously low blood pressure, coma, and death.
Court records indicate that Isanti County Sheriff Wayne Seiberlich – who was a county investigator at the time of the incident – found video that showed Kotzenmacher left the VFW to meet with someone in a beige-colored Ford Fusion, then returned to the VFW before going to the bathroom, presumably to consume the pills, then returned and hit his head on the pinball machine.
Seiberlich determined that the Fusion belonged to Croon and that Croon had held a Facebook Messenger chat with Kotzenmacher just before the two met in the Fusion.
At the sentencing hearing on Feb. 15, Kotzenmacher’s mother Anne offered a victim impact statement after noting that the deceased’s father, Paul, was not able to write one.
“Tremendous heartache and grief affect my whole being,” Anne wrote. “I visit his grave every day; my heart aches every day for the loss of my two sons.”
Alex Kotzenmacher’s brother Lucas passed away in 2020.
Isanti County Attorney Jeff Edblad then spoke about the seriousness of the crime and the verdict, as well as Croon’s prior history.
“Croon was on probation for burglaries that took place in 2018,” Edblad said. “If he had taken his chemical dependency classes serious, Alex Kotzenmacher would not have died.”
Edblad noted that no prior Minnesota judge had strayed away from the sentencing recommendation, “And I do not agree with or recommend a departure from that sentencing guideline,” he said.
Brian Liefeld, Croon’s attorney, spoke next and indicated that Croon’s youth at the time led to some of his mistakes.
“He has been remorseful, he does feel responsible, and he does feel badly,” Liefeld said of Croon. “He is amenable to probation. …
“Saying that Mr. Croon took Mr. Kotzenmacher’s life doesn’t fully reflect what happened that night.”
Brosnahan took more than 10 minutes to reflect on what she heard before issuing the sentence.
“Mr. Croon has had a rough life – probably more than any child should bear,” the judge said in her explanation of the sentence. “And while he was young [at the time of the incident], he was old enough to understand the risks. His prior record weighted towards the maximum sentence, and the fact that he was on probation when the incident occurred was something the court had to consider.
“I believe Mr. Croon is remorseful, so this was not an easy decision. But I believe it is the right decision.”
After the sentence was announced, Croon shared tear-filled hugs with several family members who were in attendance.
Following the sentencing, both Edblad and Seiberlich felt the judge’s decision was correct, and both underscored the damage that can be done by drugs.
“As with any case of this nature, it was tragic and avoidable, with multiple lives forever changed,” Edblad said.
Seiberlich agreed, adding: “No one comes out a victor today. The Kotzenmacher family has lost a son who they will never get back. The Croon family has lost a son for 90 months. Both families remain devastated for life.
“This is an important example of the consequences of selling and providing drugs to another. My hopes are that what happened today will be remembered and taken into consideration by those committing this crime.
“Our agency will investigate overdose deaths in great detail, our county attorney will prosecute these offenses, and our judges will sentence appropriately.”
Isanti County is sponsoring an event explaining the dangers of fentanyl usage. To learn more please go to https://www.hometownsource.com/county_news_review/news/local/isanti-county-sponsors-event-explaining-fentanyl-dangers/article_e8d291fc-d0f4-11ee-bb09-aba78b568b2c.html.
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