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Man allegedly strangled his mother to death after bar encounter
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Man allegedly strangled his mother to death after bar encounter

A Minnesota mother was found dead in August, and authorities recently arrested a man they say killed her after they met at a bar.

Christopher Neal, 45, was arrested and charged with second-degree murder, among other criminal offenses in connection with the death of Victoria Gamble, 38, according to the criminal complaint obtained by KSTP, Northern News Now And WJON.

Gamble was found dead in her Sauk Rapids, Minn., home on Aug. 12, the same day authorities say she met Neal at a bar, KSTP reports, citing the complaint. A GoFundMe campaign created by Gamble’s relatives following her death, claims that the man she met “offered to drive her home and she accepted.”

According to the complaint, also cited by Northern News NowBar footage from Aug. 11 shows Gamble interacting with a man authorities later identified as Neal and leaving the business later that night with the same man. Neal was also allegedly seen in footage entering Gamble’s apartment with her and leaving the apartment alone a few hours later, according to the complaint.

Victoria Gamble.

Victoria Gamble/Facebook


The complaint further states that investigators who searched Gamble’s apartment reported that keys to the woman’s car and apartment were missing, according to Northern News Now. Authorities say Neal fled the scene in Gamble’s vehicle, which was found near the Louisiana Hotel where Neal was arrested in August, the outlet reported, citing the complaint.

Neal allegedly admitted to investigators that he took a vehicle and was at a woman’s apartment in Sauk Rapids, but that he had limited memory of what happened, the complaint also says cited by WJON.

Christopher Neal.

Sauk Rapids Police Department


An autopsy performed in October determined Gamble died of strangulation and her death was ruled a homicide, WJON reported, citing the complaint. Neal is being held in the Aitkin County Jail on charges related to a separate case, according to the outlet.

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According to court documents cited by Northern News NowNeal was out on bail at the time of Gamble’s murder after being charged with domestic assault strangulation in Aitkin County on August 1 and was charged later that month with violating a restraining order domestic violence contact established with the alleged victim.

It is unclear whether Neal pleaded guilty or retained an attorney in the assault and murder cases.

Gamble is remembered during the GoFundMe campaign as a proud mother of two boys.

“She loved her boys with all her heart and soul, and they were the center of her world,” says the fundraiser. “She was also a dear and loving friend to many people.”

If you are a victim of domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or go to thehotline.org. All calls are free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.