Northfield woman charged in Owatonna burglary incident

A Northfield woman is facing criminal charges after she allegedly entered a home and tried to take several items, including a purse and keys.

Dayna Marie Henry, 39, was charged last month in Steele County District Court with first-degree burglary, a felony. The charge stems from an incident that took place in the early morning of Feb. 14.

According to the criminal complaint, Owatonna police were dispatched shortly before 5 a.m. to a report of a burglary near Crane Creek Road. When police arrived on the scene, they reportedly found an empty car and saw a female hiding behind nearby trees. The female, identified as Henry, "spoke rapidly and did not make sense," according to police.

The reporting party stated they allegedly found Henry in their house by the kitchen that morning and that Henry had a key lanyard, purse and backpack that belonged to the residents of the home. The reporting party said Henry "put all the items down and did not take anything after being confront" and had asked to grab her jacket before she left.

On Feb. 26, the attorney for Henry filed a motion to order a mental health examination as Henry as "noticed a defense of not guilty on grounds of mental illness," according to court documents.

Henry's next court appearance is scheduled for March 20.