ELK RIVER, MN – Authorities say a dispute over an insult led to the death of a 70-year-old man in Elk River, prompting a murder investigation that has revealed a tangled web of grievances, violence, and a failed suicide attempt.
Police allege that 49-year-old Brandon Rose took the life of his longtime roommate, William Canty Jr., during a heated altercation after Canty reportedly insulted Rose’s girlfriend by calling her a derogatory name. According to investigators, after the deadly confrontation, Rose attempted to hide Canty’s body beneath clothing in their shared home on Fillmore Street before turning harm upon himself.
Court documents show that messages sent by Rose to his girlfriend in the hours leading up to Canty’s death grew increasingly agitated. He expressed outrage at the name Canty used and, as investigators note, seemed to be reaching a breaking point.
The fatal encounter unfolded late at night, when Rose allegedly contacted his girlfriend to confess both Canty’s death and his own attempt at self-destruction. Rose reportedly said he had injected himself with both air and a blue chemical dye, later identified as methylene blue, in an effort to end his life. Despite his initial claim that Canty was deceased, Rose abruptly changed his story during further calls, saying Canty was still alive—even as police now believe Canty lay hidden in the house.
The distressed girlfriend quickly notified authorities, leading officers to discover Canty’s body in a bathroom, shrouded in a mound of clothes. Bloodstained evidence, including a shower curtain and a bathrobe belt, suggested a brutal struggle had taken place.
Officers found Rose unconscious in a bedroom, with a syringe still in his arm and overturned furniture scattered around him. Nearby, they observed a syringe containing a blue liquid, which matched traces of dye on both Rose and Canty.
Paramedics arrived to treat Rose after officers administered Narcan, reviving him for questioning. In the ensuing investigation, Rose made statements referencing unwanted sexual advances from Canty and described a violent altercation erupted after the alleged insults and propositions.
According to the criminal complaint, Rose’s girlfriend recounted multiple conversations with him in the days and hours leading up to the murder. She reported he was increasingly agitated by Canty’s behavior, including alleged sexual comments and derogatory remarks towards her. She had spent the night at the Fillmore Street residence earlier that week, observing no signs of trouble at the time.
Rose told police there had been a scuffle, claiming Canty entered his room and initiated unwanted contact. A medical examination later revealed Canty had suffered severe injuries, including multiple fractured ribs, a broken clavicle, neck injuries, and brain trauma.
Rose was taken into custody on Tuesday and now faces a second-degree murder charge in Sherburne County. He is currently being held in jail without bail and awaits his next appearance before a judge.