Chaska man is charged in Fridley beating death

By Paul Walsh

Mar. 20, 2008 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) --
Tony Sorensen doesn't want people to remember his father by his brutal death, or the crippling struggle with alcoholism that gripped much of his adulthood.

Beneath it all, Duane Viggo Sorensen, 62, who died last week after he was beaten along with two other drunken homeless people during a robbery in a Fridley hotel room, was a devoted son, father, grandfather and friend.

Danya McKinnie, 27, of Chaska now faces second-degree murder charges in connection with the beating.

"He had a disease, alcoholism, and the biggest thing is that behind the disease my dad was a phenomenal, caring, wouldn't-hurt-a-fly type of guy," said Tony Sorensen, 38, of Maple Grove.

"I can't believe how many people showed up to the funeral that I never even knew or had seen before," Tony Sorensen said. "Every single one of them said nothing but great things, and seeing a lot of grown men cry that I never knew obviously said a lot about my father."

Sorensen died March 13 at Unity Hospital in Fridley.

According to the charges against McKinnie:

Sorensen, Daniel A. Stark, 51, and Vicki L. Ness, 42, became acquainted 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.

Ness said that at some point on March 12 McKinnie came into the room attempting to sell crack and hit Sorensen and her when they declined.

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.

Surveillance video showed a man enter the hotel room and leave a short time later. After interviewing a woman in a nearby room, police identified that man as McKinnie.

McKinnie and the woman, his girlfriend, were arrested Monday at the StarLight Hotel in Anoka County. McKinnie told police he was high on cocaine and marijuana at the time of the incident.

Sorensen said he saw his dad about twice a year. "He had his struggles with alcohol just like people have their struggles with whatever it may be. But he still didn't deserve this."

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