KELLOGG, MN – Authorities arrested a Minnesota man on murder and manslaughter charges this week after a desperate search through rural areas culminated in a lengthy standoff high in the trees of a wooded area.
Wabasha County officials charged Craig Hameister, 44, with two counts of second-degree murder and one count of manslaughter following the fatal shooting of his girlfriend, 36-year-old Melissa Hunt. The case began when Hunt, severely injured and bleeding, drove her car into the driveway of a Kellogg homeowner just before emergency crews were summoned.
Responding officers found Hunt suffering from traumatic injuries to her face and jaw. Despite her grave condition, Hunt identified Hameister as her attacker, telling investigators he had struck her at a river boat launch nearby. She provided a description of his white pickup truck and told police where he lived.
Hunt was transported to a hospital but died of her injuries. A medical examination later revealed the wounds were consistent with a gunshot, and gunshot residue was present in her facial injuries.
At the scene of the alleged assault, investigators discovered an unspent round of ammunition. The search for Hameister escalated after his white pickup was located at a residence in Chatfield, approximately 40 miles from where the attack occurred. Officers noted the truck’s door ajar and spotted a 9 mm bullet lying on the floor.
Homeowners at the Chatfield address reported that Hameister had appeared at their home in a state of panic, telling them he had been involved in something serious and warning that police would soon arrive. Additionally, a resident noticed that her 9 mm handgun was missing following Hameister’s abrupt departure on a motorcycle.
The multi-county manhunt involved assistance from the Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office. After fleeing into a wooded area, Hameister attempted to evade officers by climbing up a tree, prompting an hours-long standoff as deputies worked to coax him down. Law enforcement eventually detained Hameister and took him to the Wabasha County Jail.
During a search of the area where Hameister was apprehended, investigators recovered a 9 mm handgun near the tree—potentially the same firearm missing from the Chatfield residence.
Hameister is currently being held on a $2 million bond while awaiting further court proceedings. The investigation remains active as authorities continue to reconstruct the series of events leading to Hunt’s death.
Wabasha County officials have not released further details concerning the motive for the killing or whether Hameister has retained an attorney. The community remains shaken as details of the violent crime continue to emerge.