Cass Lake man pleads guilty in murder

WALKER – A 28-year-old Cass Lake man has pleaded guilty here to second-degree intentional murder in the death of a woman last summer.

Ross Zangiegabo Littlewolf also entered a guilty plea to second-degree assault with a firearm during a hearing Monday in Cass County District Court.

A plea agreement calls for Littlewolf to serve 45 years in prison, according to the Cass County Attorney’s Office.

The sentence is an upward departure from the Minnesota sentencing guidelines. Judge John Smith ordered a pre-sentence investigation be completed before the formal sentencing hearing April 30.

According to the criminal complaint, law enforcement officials responded to a report of a domestic disturbance at a residence in Cass Lake shortly after 3 a.m. last June 26. Once there, officers found the body of 22-year-old Kandace Blaine Dunn, who had been killed by a gunshot wound to her head.

Court papers state the investigation revealed Dunn had been sleeping in the residence, sharing a room with her two children. Littlewolf is the father of one of the children.

Another adult couple was sleeping in a separate bedroom. The adult couple advised officers that they were awakened shortly before 3 a.m. by a loud noise believed to be a gunshot. Shortly after that they heard another gunshot, heard Dunn scream and then heard one more gunshot.

Littlewolf, who was known to them, subsequently entered their bedroom, aimed the gun at them, and threatened to kill both of them. He then told them to take care of the children and left the residence.

Investigators said Littlewolf gained entry into the home through a sliding glass door. He was arrested at a relative’s house approximately five hours later.