ALBERT LEA -- A man charged with murdering a companion at a rest stop Saturday night appeared unhappy with the other man's joking in an Austin bar less than an hour before he was killed, according to a complaint.

Dale Alan Ellegaard, 43, was charged Tuesday with four counts of second-degree murder in the death of Douglas Jacob Freese, 26, of Lyle. Each count carries a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison. He is in Freeborn County Jail in lieu of $200,000 bail.

Freese was found dead at the Oakland Woods Rest Area on Interstate 90 shortly before midnight Saturday. He was beaten in the face and the autopsy said he was struck many times. The complaint states Ellegaard struck Freese with his fists and feet.

Freeborn County Attorney Paul Morreim said Freese died of severe head injuries. A motive for the killing has not been determined.

The complaint states the two went into an Austin bar about 9 p.m. Saturday and stayed until about 11 p.m.

``He (the bartender) also said that Doug was joking and ribbing the other man, however, the other man was not exactly taking it in light fashion. (The bartender) also said that the other man seemed quite depressed,'' according to the complaint.

The bartender later identified the man with Freese as Ellegaard.

After they left the bar, the two apparently drove to the rest stop.

A rest stop attendant told investigators that he saw a car in the parking lot and could see a man kneeling over another man on the sidewalk. He asked if he needed help and the man near the car said ``no.'' The attendant called police and the man near the car drove away, leaving the man later identified as Freese on the sidewalk.

District Court Judge John Chesterman set Ellegaard's next court appearance for 10:30 a.m. Dec. 21.