Convicted Minnesota killer at large after ditching trial, possibly armed with AR-15: officials

A man convicted of murder in Minnesota is at large in the Twin Cities area and may be armed with an AR-15 rifle and 9mm pistol after skipping his trial, authorities said Tuesday.

Ralph Apmann, 58, posted bail following his initial arrest in the Juan Morales-Rivera murder case in Windom in August 2021. The murder trial began last week, and Apmann never showed up. On Tuesday, a jury convicted him of second-degree involuntary murder.

Authorities began searching for Apmann Monday after he failed to appear in court that morning, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) said.

Apmann was accused of getting into an altercation with Morales-Rivera at the Phat Pheasant Pub while he was playing pool and choking him. Morales-Rivera became unresponsive and later died in a hospital.

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Ralph Apmann, 58, is believed to be somewhere in the Twin Cities metro area, armed with an AR-15 and a 9mm pistol, after being convicted of second-degree murder during a trial he never appeared at this week was, the authorities said. (Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Arrests)

Apmann is likely located somewhere in the Twin Cities metro area and is said to be “armed with a 9mm pistol and AR-15 rifle,” the BCA said.

He is described as being 5 feet, 10 inches tall and weighing 230 pounds. He has hazel eyes and bald/grey hair.

Apmann was on trial for the murder of a man who died after being choked to death in a pub in Windom, Minnesota, in August 2021. (Fox News)

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Authorities warned the public not to contact Apmann and call 911 if he is spotted.