MATTHEW SCOTT BRENNEMAN | Army Veteran Found Dead 11 Days After Her Abusive Boyfriend Released On Parole | Convicted Of Killing Danicka Bergeson | Autographed Letter, Signed

Matthew Scott Brenneman. Autographed Letter, Signed. Handwritten, Commercial #10 (4.125 × 9.5 envelope). Minneapolis, MN. October 1, 2024. Content unknown. SEALED.

Matthew Scott Brenneman: A Detailed Overview

Background and Criminal History

Matthew Scott Brenneman, a 40-year-old man from Hopkins, Minnesota, has a documented history of domestic violence and abuse. His criminal activities came to the forefront following the murder of his ex-girlfriend, Danicka Bergeson, in July 2023. Prior to this tragic event, Brenneman had multiple domestic assault cases pending against him and had pleaded guilty to both. These charges included threatening behavior and physical abuse such as punching, biting, choking, and making deadly threats. Despite these charges, he was released with minimal restrictions before committing the murder.

The Murder of Danicka Bergeson

Brenneman’s most notorious crime is the murder of Danicka Bergeson. He pleaded guilty to second-degree murder for killing Bergeson in her apartment shortly after being released from jail for assaulting her. The plea deal resulted in a prison sentence of 285 months (23.75 years), with other charges including first-degree murder being dropped. This plea agreement was reached despite the fact that a first-degree murder conviction could have resulted in a life sentence.

Brenneman admitted to two aggravating factors during his court proceedings: he killed Bergeson in her zone of privacy (her apartment bedroom) and treated her with particular cruelty by allowing her body to decompose without rendering aid. He acknowledged that there was a violent struggle during which he pinned her down on the bed until she stopped breathing. Days later, realizing she was dead, he covered her body with a plastic bag.

Legal Proceedings and Sentencing

The legal proceedings surrounding Brenneman’s case were complex due to his prior history of domestic violence and the severity of his actions against Bergeson. Initially charged with first-degree murder by a Hennepin County grand jury, Brenneman faced potential life imprisonment if convicted on this charge. However, through a plea agreement for second-degree murder, he received a sentence that is considered an upward departure for such convictions but significantly less than what would have been imposed for first-degree murder.

During the court hearings, it was revealed that at the time of Bergeson’s death, there was a domestic assault no-contact order in place against Brenneman due to previous incidents involving Bergeson herself. Despite this order intended to protect her, it proved ineffective as Brenneman violated it leading up to her death.

Community Impact and Response

The case has had significant repercussions within the community and among those who knew Danicka Bergeson personally. Her family expressed disappointment over what they perceived as lenient sentencing given the gravity of Brenneman’s actions and his history of violence. They hoped for stronger consequences reflecting their belief that more severe punishment could serve as both justice for Danicka and deterrence against future similar crimes.

In response to this tragedy and others like it involving intimate partner violence (IPV), local authorities emphasized their commitment towards aggressively prosecuting such cases while acknowledging challenges inherent in proving them often reliant on circumstantial evidence alone.

Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty highlighted these difficulties stating that prosecution is only one component needed when addressing IPV issues; additional support systems must be established earlier on providing victims necessary tools escape dangerous situations safely without fear retribution or further harm from abusers like Brenneman.

VIDEO: Man Kills Ex-Girlfriend After Getting Out of Jail for Attacking Her: Prosecutors | https://youtu.be/3VkNoB_ww80

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