Chaska man charged in fatal beating

By Paul Walsh

Mar. 19, 2008 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) --
A doped-up Chaska man beat three drunken homeless people in a Fridley hotel room and robbed one of them of money, said a criminal complaint filed today.

Now, Danya McKinnie, who turns 27 years old today, faces murder charges because one of the victims died.

Dwayne V. Sorensen, 62, died March 13 at Unity Hospital in Fridley, while his two companions were less seriously hurt.

According to the charges against McKinnie:

Sorensen, Daniel A. Stark, 51, and Vicki L. Ness, 42, became acquainted while staying at the Harbor Lights homeless shelter in Minneapolis and were in a room at the LIVINN Suites on Central Avenue in Fridley starting March 11.

Stark said they all had gotten drunk and ended up at the hotel, where they all passed out.

Ness said that at some point McKinnie came into the room, and hit Sorensen and her.

Stark said his wallet was missing, along with several hundred dollars from a Social Security check he cashed, but he was too drunk to recall the details. He also said that McKinnie beat him as well.

Police checked surveillance video at the hotel and saw a man on March 12 enter the room where the three were staying. The video also showed the man leaving a short time later. After interviewing a woman in a nearby room, police identify that man as McKinnie.

McKinnie and the woman, his girlfriend, were arrested Monday at the StarLight Hotel in Anoka County.

McKinnie told police that he was at the Fridley hotel and tried to sell cocaine to Ness, Stark and Sorensen. A physical confrontation began, he said, adding that he assaulted each of the three and took Stark's wallet and money.

McKinnie told police he was high on cocaine and marijuana at the time.

Paul Walsh --612-673-4482


Newstex ID: KRTB-0281-23896917