Courtesy: Wabasha County Sheriff’s Office
A Rochester man will serve more than three decades in prison after he pleaded guilty to shooting his ex-girlfriend in the face at close range and leaving her to die.
Craig Hameister, 45, was sentenced to 34.5 years in prison (415 months) on Monday for the killing of Melissa Hunt last June at a Kellogg, Minnesota, boat launch. Hameister had pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree murder on March 3.
According to charging documents, after Hameister shot Hunt, she drove herself to a nearby home and named her assailant as “Craig.” She had difficulty speaking due to extensive injuries that took out several teeth and part of her jaw. Hunt was taken to a hospital but did not survive.
At sentencing, Hameister admitted to shooting Hunt in the face with a handgun with the intent to kill her, according to the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office, which was asked to prosecuted the case in Wabasha County.
“Melissa should still be with us today,” Ellison said in a statement. “Those who were lucky enough to have known Melissa say she was kind, caring, and loved her daughters dearly. Her loss is such a tragedy, and I’m keeping her family in my prayers. I’m grateful to everyone who helped bring Melissa’s killer to justice, including the Wabasha County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. As long as I am attorney general, I will do everything I can to ensure those who harm their fellow Minnesotans are held to account.”
If you or someone you know is experiencing abuse, several resources are available to offer help. For immediate help, contact:
- The National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233.
- Minnesota Day One at 866-223-1111.
- The Women’s Advocates crisis line at 651-227-8284.
More than 12 million people just in the U.S. are affected by domestic violence every year, according to the National Domestic Violence Hotline.
The organizations listed above can help connect victims to resources like safe shelter, advocacy, legal help and support groups.
The National Domestic Violence Hotline also offers tips for identifying abuse and supporting victims of abuse. CLICK HERE to see those.
Other organizations that can help include:
- Violence Free Minnesota at 651-646-6177 or 800-289-6177.
- STANDPOINT(formerly the Battered Women’s Legal Advocacy Project) at 612-343-9842.
- Mending the Sacred Hoop at 888-305-1650.
- Minnesota Coalition Against Sexual Assault at 612-209-9993.
Minnesota also has a list of many other resources for victims of crimes that can be found HERE.
Courtesy of KSTP
