Duluth man pleads guilty to second-degree murder

The St. Louis County Attorney’s office reports that Dale John Howard, 25, of Duluth has pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the death of his girlfriend Allisa Vollan on March 22, 2024. Documents indicate that Howard acknowledged he caused Vollan’s death through strangulation.

“Intimate partner violence is a serious issue we face in our community, and it affects individuals
of all genders, ages, and backgrounds. It encompasses various forms of abuse, including
physical, emotional, sexual, and financial abuse, occurring within a romantic or intimate
relationship,” said St. Louis County Attorney Kim Maki

The presumptive Minnesota Guidelines sentence is 150 months in prison for this crime. However, as a part of the plea agreement, Howard has agreed to an upward departure of 20 years in prison.

There was an active Domestic Abuse No Contact Order issued by the court to prevent Howard from having contact with Vollan at the time of her death. Legally, this allows for the increased sentence.

The Domestic Abuse Intervention Project can be contacted at theduluthmodel.org or 218-722-2781.