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Hopkins man sentenced to nearly 24 years in prison for murdering his girlfriend

The hearing is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m.

A Hopkins man who pleaded guilty to murdering a woman and who prosecutors said is also involved in several previous domestic violence cases was sentenced to nearly 24 years in prison Friday.

Matthew Brenneman, 40, pleaded guilty to domestic violence, threats of violence and first-degree murder for killing his girlfriend, 33-year-old Danicka Bergeson, in their Hopkins apartment just over a year ago.

Bergeson's body was found wrapped in several blankets and partially wrapped in a plastic bag. When investigators found her on July 8, 2023, she had already been dead for at least a day.

At the time of her death, Bergeson had obtained a domestic violence restraining order against Brenneman after court records revealed he had hit, bitten and made death threats in the past.

RELATED: Abusive boyfriend charged with woman's premeditated murder

Investigators say that in addition to Bergeson's body in July of last year, they also found an ill-thinking Brenneman in the apartment's bathroom, smelling overwhelmingly of bleach, wearing blood-soaked men's clothing and several notes from Brenneman in which he wrote that he “never intended to be disrespectful to Bergeson.”

Brenneman pleaded guilty in the case last month.

If you or someone you know is a victim of abuse, there are several resources available to help you. For immediate help, contact:

According to the National Domestic Violence Hotline, more than 12 million people in the United States are affected by domestic violence each year.

The organizations listed above can help victims access resources such as safe shelters, advocacy groups, legal aid, and support groups.

The National Domestic Violence Hotline also offers tips on recognizing abuse and supporting victims of abuse. CLICK HERE to see these.

Other organizations that can help include:

Minnesota also has a list of many other resources for crime victims that can be found HERE.

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