Craig Alan Hameister sentenced to more than 34.5 years for second-degree intentional murder

Hameister received 415-month sentence following June 2025 killing of Melissa Hunt

May 11, 2026 (SAINT PAUL) — Today, a Wabasha County court sentenced Craig Alan Hameister to 415 months in prison for the June 2025 murder of Melissa Hunt in Kellogg, Minnesota.  Hameister pleaded guilty to second-degree intentional murder on March 3, 2026.

On June 18, 2025, Hameister shot and killed Melissa Hunt at a boat launch in Kellogg, Minnesota. After shooting the victim in the face at close range, Hameister fled.  The victim drove herself to a nearby residence with portions of her jaw and teeth missing.  She identified “Craig” as her assailant and had difficulty speaking due to the extent of her injuries.  The victim was transported to a hospital but succumbed to her injuries, which resulted in her death.  At the plea hearing, Hameister admitted that he shot the victim “in the face” with a handgun and acted with intent to kill her. Melissa Hunt was a mother, a daughter, a sister, and an aunt.

Attorney General Ellison’s office prosecuted Hameister upon a referral from Wabasha County Attorney Matthew Stinson under Minnesota Statutes section 8.01, which provides, “Upon request of the county attorney, the attorney general shall appear in court in such criminal cases as the attorney general deems proper.” The authority vested in the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office is primarily civil.  Aside from referrals submitted under section 8.01 and Medicaid fraud, the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office does not have prosecuting authority over most criminal acts. That authority generally rests with city and county attorneys.

“Melissa should still be with us today,” said Attorney General Ellison. “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.”

The Wabasha County Sheriff’s Office and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension investigated this crime.