JEREMIAH KINGBIRD, Second Degree Murder, Minnesota 2019

Second Degree Murder Conviction Lands Man 16 Years in Prison

JEREMIAH KINGBIRD, 39, was sentenced to 192 months in prison for second degree murder in Ponemah, Minnesota. The crime occurred on January 6, 2019, when KINGBIRD and his wife were traveling home from a night of drinking.

According to the defendant’s guilty plea and documents filed in court, KINGBIRD and his wife began to argue and engage in a physical altercation while driving. KINGBIRD struck the victim in her head, used his hand to strangle her, and left her on the side of the road near Highway 1 and Old Ponemah Road in Redby.

The victim was found hours later, lying face down in the snow, with severe injuries to her head and neck and difficulty breathing. She was transported to the Red Lake IHS Hospital, where hospital staff were unsuccessful in reviving her. During a search of KINGBIRD’s vehicle, law enforcement observed blood on the front passenger window.

KINGBIRD admitted to violently assaulting the victim and leaving her outside in the elements. On November 22, 2019, Attorney General William P. Barr launched a national strategy to address missing and murdered Native Americans.

JEREMIAH KINGBIRD, Ponemah, Minn. was convicted of:

Murder in the second degree, 1 count

He was sentenced to:

192 months in prison

5 years of supervised release

This case was the result of an investigation conducted by the Red Lake Tribal Police Department and the FBI Headwaters Safe Trails Task Force. It was prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Gina L. Allery and Assistant U.S. Attorney Deidre Y. Aanstad.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Minnesota continues to prioritize addressing missing and murdered Native Americans. U.S. Attorney Erica H. MacDonald stated, “Addressing MMIP cases is a top priority for the U.S. Attorney’s Office and for the Department of Justice. In this particular case, Mr. Kingbird subjected his wife to extreme physical violence before leaving her on the side of a road, exposed to below freezing temperatures.”

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-mn/pr/red-lake-man-sentenced-192-months-prison-second-degree-murder