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Mankato, MN (KROC-AM News) - The investigation into a stabbing earlier this week near Mankato has become a homicide case.

The Blue Earth County Sheriff's Office says the victim of the stabbing died while undergoing surgery and his son is now facing two counts of second-degree murder. 24-year-old Travis Earle is currently being held in the Blue Earth County Jail with his conditional bail set at $1 million.

He was arrested on suspicion of first-degree assault Wednesday morning after Blue Earth County Sheriff's Deputies responded to a report of a domestic altercation at the victim's home and found 59-year-old Stephen Earle inside the house suffering from proved to be fatal stab wounds. He was the person who called 911 and reported his adult son had a knife and was becoming violent. After the call was disconnected, the dispatcher called back and heard the victim asking his son to leave his room before hearing the sounds of a struggle and screaming.

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The criminal complaint indicates the first deputy to arrive at the scene found Travis Earle outside the residence. The deputy stated the younger man told him his father came at him with a knife and claimed he acted in self-defense. When asked about his father's location, the court document says Earle told the deputy he was inside the home and "might be dead."

The criminal complaint states the victim was still conscious when the deputies found him in the living room suffering from multiple stab wounds. He told the officers he originally grabbed a knife to protect himself, but his son grabbed it from him and stabbed him while he was talking to a 911 dispatcher.

Stephen Earle was rushed to the Mankato Hospital before he was transported to Rochester for treatment at St. Marys Hospital, where he died from wounds during surgery Wednesday night. Travis Earle was arraigned on the murder charges this morning and is due back in court on May 12.

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