Former Janesville, Minn., mayor identified as victim in Bloomington stabbing

Hennepin County officials have identified the 74-year-old man who died after being attacked at his home in Bloomington last week as Mark Novak.

Novak died of multiple sharp and blunt force injuries, according to the Hennepin County Medical Examiner's office.

His wife, Pamela Novak, 72, was also seriously injured in the attack early Thursday morning.

Novak served one term as the mayor of Janesville from 2011 to 2013. The Novaks moved to Bloomington shortly after his term ended, according to Janesville city administrator Clinton Rogers. Both had been active volunteers in the years they lived in Janesville, he said.

"Mark will be missed by many friends in our community," Rogers said. "We hope for a speedy recovery for Pam."

Police responded at 5 a.m. Thursday to a 911 caller asking for help and saying there was someone in the house, according to a news release from the Bloomington Police Department.

Police went to the caller's home on 105th Street near Oak Grove Middle School, and discovered the woman on the floor inside the home just as a 44-year-old man was spotted running from the home. The suspect was arrested, and the second victim was also found inside the home. Both victims appeared to have been beaten and stabbed.

Both were taken by ambulance to HCMC, where Mark Novak was pronounced dead. Pamela Novak was in satisfactory condition Sunday evening, according to an HCMC spokesperson.

The suspect — whose relationship to the Novaks, if any, is unclear — was arrested on suspicion of murder Thursday morning and was in the Hennepin County jail as of Sunday. The Star Tribune generally does not identify suspects before they are charged. He does not appear to have a significant criminal history in Minnesota.

Police said they believe there is no danger to the public and that the incident was not random.