Burnsville Man Charged with Murder of Faribault Man Found Dead at Interlachen Park
BURNSVILLE, MINNESOTA – A Burnsville man has been charged with second-degree intentional murder in connection with the death of a Faribault man whose body was discovered at Interlachen Park earlier this year, a story that Limitless Media News first reported on back in May - Body Found at Interlachen Park; Burnsville Police Seek Security Footage from Public.
Dakota County Attorney Kathy Keena announced today that Michael Lual Nhial, 21, of Burnsville, was charged by complaint warrant in the death of David Stuart Chant, 59, of Faribault, Minnesota. If convicted, Nhial faces up to 40 years in prison.
According to the criminal complaint by the Dakota County Attorney’s Office, on May 3, 2025, Burnsville police were called to Interlachen Park around 8:10 a.m. after Chant’s mother called 911 around 8:10 a.m. after finding her son unconscious and unresponsive at Interlachen Park, near her home. He was partially under a picnic table with blood around his head and was cold to the touch. First responders noted swelling to his head, mouth, and eyes. Two bent and broken walking sticks, which Chant used for medical reasons, were found nearby. Life-saving measures were unsuccessful, and Chant was pronounced dead at 8:20 a.m.
An autopsy determined the cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head and ruled the manner of death as homicide.
Evidence in the Park
According to the criminal complaint, during a search of the park, officers found a pair of tennis shoes and an unopened alternator box in a porta-potty. Blood on one shoe was later confirmed to be Chant’s, and gray hairs consistent with his were found stuck to the sole.
Police recognized the shoes from prior encounters with Nhial in March, including a call where he allegedly damaged property and assaulted an officer.
Surveillance and Audio Evidence
The criminal complaint goes on to mention that surveillance video from the early morning hours of May 3 shows Nhial walking around his apartment’s underground garage at 12:19 a.m., peering into vehicles. He was wearing shoes matching those found in the porta-potty. Over the next hour, Nhial was spotted near a tobacco shop, outside a liquor store, and later in his apartment building vestibule, where he opened a package, believed to be the alternator later recovered in the porta-potty.
Between 1:43 a.m. and 1:53 a.m., surveillance audio from a parking lot adjacent to the park captured thumping sounds and an argument between two voices. The voice believed to be Chant can be heard saying, “Hey. Give me my cane back, god damnit!” followed by repeated cries of “Ow.” A second voice, allegedly Nhial’s, is heard saying, “Why are you f**ing running?”* before more sounds of hitting.
A loud slam, consistent with a porta-potty door, was heard moments before a man matching Nhial’s appearance walked back toward his apartment at 2:04 a.m.
Statements and Arrest
Later that morning, Nhial’s mother reported him missing and expressed concerns about his increasing aggression. Police later arrested Nhial on an unrelated charge. While in jail, Nhial made recorded phone calls in which he allegedly admitted to “knocking out a person at the park” and said he “beat up a man in the park for grabbing [his] ass.”
Bail and Pending Cases
On Thursday, August 7, 2025, bail was set at $2.5 million without conditions or $1.5 million with conditions, including remaining in Minnesota, surrendering his passport and weapons, no contact with the victim’s family, and compliance with mental health directives. The court also ordered that Nhial not be released through the civil commitment process unless bail is posted.
Nhial also faces multiple unrelated felony charges in Dakota County, including several counts of fourth-degree assault, felony stalking, robbery, burglary, and domestic assault.
Dakota County Attorney Kathy Keena praised the Burnsville Police Department for their “partnership and thorough investigation” into the case.
Provided by the Dakota County Jail.
Written by: Will Wight
