Mugshot of D’Angelo Hunt
Benson County (trfnews.i234.me) — A Spirit Lake Reservation man charged in federal court with the murder of his brother will remain in custody in Grand Forks. Officials say the suspect, 26-year-old D’Angelo Hunt, waived his detention hearing on Tuesday.
Hunt is charged with second-degree murder in the death of his brother, 28-year-old Isaac Hunt. The case is being handled in federal court due to the location of the crime on the Spirit Lake Reservation. Federal rules require a detention review, but Hunt chose to waive that hearing. He will stay at the Grand Forks County jail during the case.
According to federal court documents, Isaac Hunt was reported missing in March 2024. The family and community members searched for months. Search teams carried out several ground sweeps near St. Michael. Those searches included help from the FBI and tribal authorities.
Last week, search crews made a new discovery near the family’s home. The remains found were confirmed to be those of Isaac Hunt. Investigators have not released the exact cause of death. The case remains active, and more documents are expected to be filed.
Family members say D’Angelo has struggled with mental health for years. They say he has had periods of confusion and instability. Court filings also note that mental health questions may play a role in the case. At this time, no formal evaluation has been ordered, but attorneys expect that issue to be raised later.
Federal prosecutors say more details will be shared as the case moves forward. A trial date has not been set. The court will schedule more hearings in the coming weeks.
More information on federal criminal procedure can be found at the U.S. Department of Justice.
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.