Hopkins Man Killed GF, Wrote Suicide Note, Drank Bleach Before Arrest

HOPKINS, MN — A Hopkins man admitted in Hennepin County court Monday to killing his girlfriend mere days after he was jailed for abusing her.

Matthew S. Brenneman, 40, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the death of his girlfriend, the Star Tribune reported. Under his plea deal, Brenneman will serve nearly 24 years in prison.

On July 8, 2023, police were dispatched to an apartment located on the 420 block of Van Buren Avenue North on a report of "groaning, yelling, and banging" coming from an apartment, according to the criminal complaint.

The building manager told police that the woman who lived in the apartment was the recent victim of multiple incidents of domestic violence at the hands of her boyfriend, identified as Scott.

Police were also familiar with Scott and his criminal history, authorities said.

Officers at the scene heard groaning, yelling, and banging noises coming from inside the apartment. They called out to the woman to let her know that they were there to help her but received no "coherent" response, according to investigators.

Officers entered the apartment, attempted to open the bathroom door, and found Scott leaning against the door "yelling, grunting, and growling," the criminal complaint states.

There was an overwhelming odor of bleach coming from the bathroom and Scott, who had on wet clothing, according to prosecutors.

Scott "was incoherent, disoriented, and did not answer officers’ questions about what he had consumed," authorities said.

Police found the woman's body, covered in blankets and a trash bag, and showing signs of decomposing, the criminal complain states.

Meanwhile, Scott was transported to the hospital for apparent ingestion of bleach before being booked into the jail.

Scott had bruising and swelling to his cheek, scratches and abrasions to his face, arms, and legs, and distinctive scratches to his back consistent with fingernail scrapes, authorities said.

Police found blood-soaked men's clothing and an apparent suicide note, authored by Scott, on the kitchen table.

In the note, Scott stated several things, including that: "I never in my entire life became physically aggressive with any woman until [Victim] sadly" and: "Things happened abruptly, I didn't know what to do and tried to go on a couple days. I can't try to live after this. The end, Matthew."