Wadena man indicted on murder charges
The grand jury convened in Wadena County has indicted Antonio St. Marie, 26, on nine counts, including murder in the first degree, murder in the second degree and kidnapping.
The indictments are related to the Nov. 7, 2016, death of Margaret St. Marie in Wadena.
According to the original complaint, St. Marie shot his estranged wife, Margaret St. Marie, 27, in her home on Bryant Ave. SW in Wadena after holding her and her brother at gunpoint, along with a young child.
Margaret St. Marie had obtained a court ordered domestic abuse no-contact order against her husband for a domestic assault that occured on Nov. 4. Antonio was charged in that case but was let out of jail on bail the morning of the murder.
The complaint also states that the couple’s young child was present while Antoinio was holding Margaret and her brother, James Flath, at gunpoint. Flath was able to get the child out of the apartment and contacted his and Margaret’s mother, who contacted authorities and picked up the child.
Antonio St. Marie’s mother also called authorities after he called her while holding the three people at gunpoint.
Authorities found Margaret St. Marie dead due to a gunshot wound in her head.
The next hearing is set for April 4 at 1:30 p.m. which is an omnibus hearing unless the defense files any motions challenging legal issues. After the omnibus hearing, the matter typically gets set for a settlement conference, then a jury roll call hearing, then a trial.
“I, on behalf of the State of Minnesota, am preparing for trial in this matter and I do not have any comment concerning settlement short of a jury trial in this matter at this time,” said Wadena County Attorney Kyra Ladd.
St. Marie is currently being held outside Wadena County in a jail facility that can handle his medical needs. St. Marie attempted to flee the scene of the murder and led Wadena Police on a high speed chase that resulted in a crash.
“We are hopeful that we can get Defendant St. Marie back in our facility sooner rather than later so that we are not incurring the out of county boarding costs for housing him at another facility,” Ladd said.
The specific charges in the indictment and their maximum penalties are:
o Murder in the First Degree - Premeditation, life imprisonment without the possibility of release.
o Murder in the First Degree - While Committing Kidnapping, life imprisonment without the possibility of release.
o Murder in the First Degree - While Tampering With a Witness, life imprisonment.
o Murder in the First Degree - While Committing Aggravated Robbery, life imprisonment.
o Murder in the First Degree - While Committing Domestic Abuse, life imprisonment.
o Murder in the Second Degree - Intentional, 40 years imprisonment maximum with a mandatory minimum of three years imprisonment.
o Murder in the Second Degree - While Restrained by a No Contact Order, 40 years imprisonment maximum with a mandatory minimum of three years imprisonment.
o Kidnapping - James Flath, Jr., 20 years imprisonment, or a fine of $35,000, or both maximum with a mandatory minimum of three years imprisonment.
o Possession of a Pistol by a Prohibited Person, 15 years imprisonment, or a fine of $30,000, or both maximum with a mandatory minimum of five years imprisonment.
Antonio St. Marie has prior convictions for felony terroristic threats and felony domestic assault.
