Man who hid in a tree after shooting his ex-girlfriend in the face will have to find a new hiding place in prison

A Minnesota antheral who pleaded blameworthy to sidesplitting his ex-girlfriend was sentenced to decades successful prison.

Craig Hameister, 45, was sentenced connected Monday to much than 34 years successful situation for the execution of his ex-girlfriend, 36-year-old Melissa Hunt. As Law&Crime antecedently reported, Hunt drove herself to a location successful Kellogg, Minnesota, aft being changeable by Hameister astatine a vessel motorboat connected June 18, 2025. She arrived astatine the location with severe injuries to her face, and told archetypal responders that Hameister "hit her with a stick." According to police, Hunt was missing respective teeth and portion of her jaw.

Hunt died astatine the infirmary portion constabulary looked for Hameister.

Police said they recovered Hameister's motortruck astatine a location successful Chatfield, Minnesota. When instrumentality enforcement spoke to the residents, they confirmed that Hameister had been determination and appeared to beryllium "very frantic," saying that "something atrocious happened."

Hameister was yet located successful a histrion connected the property, which helium climbed to evade arrest. At the basal of the histrion was the 9 mm handgun helium utilized to termination Hunt.

After Hameister was arrested, helium was charged with 2 counts of second-degree murder, 1 with intent and 1 without intent. He was besides charged with manslaughter.

According to reporting by section CBS affiliate WKBT, Hameister pleaded guilty to second-degree intentional execution successful March, telling the court, "I changeable Melissa Hunt successful the face." He admitted that helium intended to termination her.

More from Law&Crime: 'Something atrocious happened': Woman who died with 'portion' of jaw missing leads cops to 'frantic' ex-boyfriend hiding successful a tree

On Monday, Hameister was sentenced to 415 months — astir 34 1/2 years — successful situation astatine the Minnesota Correctional Facility successful St. Cloud. He received recognition for 327 days served. The justice ordered him to wage $10,134.97 successful restitution.