Hastings Man Charged With Arson, Concealing Body

HASTINGS, MN — A Hastings man was charged with second-degree arson and interference with a dead body in connection with the death of Kyle Hamilton, 30 of Hastings, according to a news release from Dakota County Attorney Kathy Keena.

Bail was set at $200,000 without conditions or $150,000 with conditions for Timothy Lee Otto, 33 of Hastings, Keena said.

First responders were dispatched to a fire at Jaycee Park in Hastings on July 10, Keena said. A portable restroom and a partial enclosure surrounding it were damaged in the fire, according to officials.

After the fire was put out, first responders found a burned human body, identified as Hamilton, officials said. Fatal amounts of methamphetamine and fentanyl were found in his system, police said.

Gasoline was found in the soil under Hamilton's body, according to the news release. The State Fire Marshal determined that the origin of fire was Hamilton's body, officials said.

Investigators learned that Hamilton frequently stayed at a building in Hastings nicknamed "The Doghouse," police said. Law enforcement knew of people who spent time there, and knew that people there used and sold drugs, according to police.

A witness told investigators that on a Facetime call July 7, he saw Hamilton slumped against the wall in a bedroom, and that Otto was also in the room, according to police.

Another witness told investigators that she saw Hamilton slumped over and snoring in Otto's bedroom on July 6, police said.

On July 7, the man who spoke to investigators said that he, the woman and Otto went into Otto's bedroom and saw that Hamilton appeared to be dead, according to officials. He could not find a pulse, and the three assumed that Hamilton had died, police said. The witness told investigators that Otto put a blanket over Hamilton and left for work, according to the news release.

The woman told investigators that July 9, she saw Otto in the park and he asked her if she wanted to see fireworks, officials said. He told her to go to the boat launch and began riding his bike to Jaycee Park but the woman instead went to The Doghouse, according to police.

When the two went into Otto's bedroom after he returned, the woman noticed that Hamilton's body was gone, officials said.

The woman told investigators that Otto told her he brought Hamilton's body to the boat launch and set a garbage can on fire with Hamilton's body inside, according to police.

Investigators said that while interviewing Otto, he said that Hamilton came over to use drugs in his room, but Otto soon realized that Hamilton had overdosed and didn't know what to do.

"On behalf of my office and the Hastings Police Department, our deepest sympathy is extended to the family and friends of Kyle Hamilton for their great loss," Keena said.