Suspect in Minnesota murder is arrested in Tomah

Police in Tomah made an arrest at a Greyhound bus depot this weekend, capturing a man wanted in a Twin Cities area murder. 

McKinley Phillips was arrested Saturday morning in Tomah, and is being held in Monroe County on a charge of stabbing his wife at their home in Woodbury, Minnesota, while their six children were in another part of the house watching TV. 

A 9-1-1 dispatcher says a man called on Friday afternoon and confessed to killing a woman. 

Phillips was not in the house when police arrived there, but they found the woman’s body, and several children came out of the house.  The children were not aware that the body was inside the house.     

Phillips appeared in Monroe County court on Monday, and agreed to be returned to Washington County, Minnesota. He tells police he suspected that his wife was cheating on him. 

Early Saturday, police found that Phillips was on a Greyhound bus passing through Monroe County, and he was captured in Tomah. 

Police in Woodbury issued this release:        
On June 25, 2021 at 3:42 P.M. a 911 caller reported that a male subject phoned her and told her that he had killed an adult female at a residence in Woodbury. The 911 caller relayed this information to Washington County Communications, who in turn dispatched Woodbury Police. Officers responded to a residence in the 7500 block of Steepleview Rd.
The 911 caller advised that there were most likely several children in the residence. The subject is known to Woodbury Police, and while officers were responding to the scene, other officers attempted phone contact with persons known to reside in the home. Officers and SWAT assembled outside and hailed for any persons inside. Several children of varying ages exited the house when asked. They stated that the subject left earlier in the day and believed that the female victim had left with him. All children were evacuated to a safe location and are being cared for.
SWAT entered the house and discovered a female deceased inside the residence. Lifesaving measures were not attempted based on her condition. The children were not aware of the deceased person inside. We are not releasing the name of the victim at this time.
Law Enforcement worked hard during the night to locate 39-year-old McKINLEY PHILLIPS in connection with this tragic situation. He was taken into custody without incident. More information will be available in the criminal complaint from the Washington County Attorney’s Office.
Detectives actively worked the scene well into the night and worked leads to locate and subsequently arrest PHILLIPS. Woodbury Public Safety is thankful for the assistance from our neighboring and regional agencies including the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, our joint county-wide SWAT, BCA, Oakdale Police, Cottage Grove Police, Minneapolis Police, and the Washington County Attorney’s Office.
The Woodbury community has endured several tragic events over the last several weeks. Woodbury Public Safety is grateful for the continued community support. The uplift and encouragement from residents and community leadership helps propel our efforts to bring justice and closure to these difficult cases.