A federal grand jury has indicted D’Angelo James Hunt, 26, of St. Michael, North Dakota, on ten felony charges, including murder and manslaughter. The indictment was unsealed by the United States District Court for the District of North Dakota following an announcement from United States Attorney Nicholas W. Chase.
Hunt was initially charged by criminal complaint on November 17, 2025, with second-degree murder in connection with the death of I.H. After his initial appearance, he waived a detention hearing and remains in custody.
The grand jury later added nine more counts to the indictment. These include three counts of assault resulting in substantial bodily injury to a spouse, intimate partner, or dating partner; two counts of assault by strangulation; assault resulting in serious bodily injury; voluntary manslaughter; second-degree murder within Indian country; tampering with evidence; and use of fire to commit a felony.
According to court documents, six assault charges relate to alleged acts against J.M.P., as well as one count of voluntary manslaughter involving the same individual. The indictment also charges Hunt with tampering with evidence and using fire to commit a felony related to the murder case.
Officials emphasized that an indictment is not proof of guilt and that Hunt is presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
“Today’s unsealing of this Indictment marks an important step toward justice in a case that has weighed heavily on the victims’ families and the Spirit Lake community for more than two years,” said United States Attorney Nicholas W. Chase. “No indictment can undo their loss, but it affirms our commitment to pursuing accountability with care, diligence, and resolve. Of course, an Indictment is not proof of guilt, and the Defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty. Violent crime remains one of the highest priorities of this office, and we will continue to devote the resources necessary to hold violent offenders accountable. I want to commend our law-enforcement partners, who have worked tirelessly and followed every lead to move this case forward. The investigation in this case is ongoing, with the goal of bringing a family some measure of closure through the recovery of J.M.P.”
Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston Sr. of FBI Minneapolis commented on violence affecting indigenous women: “The charges alleged in this indictment are one more brutal example of violence against indigenous women. Too many women and men face fear and violence on tribal lands,” he said. “Through exhaustive investigation and strong collaboration with our tribal, state, and federal partners, the FBI is fully committed to holding violent criminals accountable and protecting safe communities. The indictment of Hunt is the first step in securing much-deserved justice for two victims, their families, and the community.”
Billy Kirkland, Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs at the Department of the Interior stated: “President Trump and Secretary Burgum are committed to bringing forth all available resources to protect tribal communities and deliver justice on behalf of the victims and their families,” adding appreciation for collaborative law enforcement efforts leading up to Hunt’s arrest.
The case involves multiple agencies: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation (NDBCI), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), as well as prosecutors from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for North Dakota.
