Charges: Twin Cities man fatally stabbed victim in the heart, fled into woods

A Twin Cities man with a long rap sheet has been charged with fatally stabbing another man outside his Chisago County home before he fled with his girlfriend in the middle of the night, according to charges.

Justin G. Valian, 23, of Maplewood, was charged Monday in Chisago County District Court with second-degree murder in connection with the attack early Friday on Joshua J. Kaczrowski, 28, in Sunrise Township. Charged as an accomplice was Valian's girlfriend, Courtney K. Pilz-Carr, 28, of Harris, Minn.

The two were caught in the woods about 7 a.m. near Tower Park in North Branch, according to the Sheriff's Office. They remained jailed ahead of a court hearing Thursday. Their attorneys have yet to respond to a request for comment.

Kaczrowski was stabbed multiple times outside his home in the 42200 block of Joywood Avenue, where emergency responders declared him dead at the scene.

According to the charges:

A man with Kaczrowski at the home with said he saw Valian drive up to the house and Pilz-Carr come out a few minutes later.

Kaczrowski followed Pilz-Carr to the van and pleaded for her not to leave, the witness said.

"A very brief physical altercation" occurred between the two men, the charges read. Valian and Pilz-Carr fled in the van while Kaczrowski said he was hurt and needed the witness to call 911.

Questioned by law enforcement after her capture, Pilz-Carr said she did not see Valian stab Kaczrowski despite being a few feet from the men.

Pilz-Carr also explained that Kaczrowski and Valian did not like each other. She added that it was her intention to marry Valian.

Valian has been in trouble with the law throughout his adult life in Minnesota and in counties in nearby Wisconsin. Combined, he has four convictions each for theft and harassment, three for burglary and one each for drug possession and receiving stolen property.

Paul Walsh • 612-673-4482