FORT TOTTEN, N.D. – The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced a federal murder charge against D’Angelo James Hunt for the murder of his younger brother, Isaac Hunt, whose remains were found on their family property Saturday during a renewed search on the Spirit Lake Reservation.
According to a criminal complaint filed on Monday, Nov. 17, D’Angelo Hunt was charged with second-degree murder in connection with the death of Isaac Hunt, who went missing in March 2024.
On Saturday, Nov. 15, a family-organized search supported by community volunteers and the Spirit Lake Tribe for Isaac Hunt reported the discovery of then unidentified human remains behind the Hunts’ family home. Law enforcement responded immediately to secure the area and began investigative procedures under the jurisdiction of the FBI. The Bureau of Indian Affairs – Fort Totten Police Department, other supporting law-enforcement organizations and the Spirit Lake Tribe are assisting as needed.
On Nov. 17, the Spirit Lake Tribe confirmed in a press release that the remains were positively identified as Hunt and notified his family, adding that it brought a difficult but significant measure of closure to a long and emotionally demanding search, and that the family requests privacy as they grieve.
Regarding the charges against D’Angelo Hunt, the Tribe has stated that as this is now part of an active federal case, they will not comment on investigative details or allegations in federal filings, but relayed that the family expressed that they do not want D’Angelo portrayed as a bad person, and shared that he had been experiencing significant mental health struggles, and the family had not been aware he was considered a suspect prior to the announcement.
“The family is now facing the unthinkable—grieving two loved ones at the same time,” said Spirit Lake Tribe Public Relations Specialist Vicki Alberts in a prepared statement, and asked that the community meet this moment with compassion rather than judgment, reminding the public that all individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law and to avoid speculation and assumptions.
For months, local speculation ran rampant on D’Angelo Hunt’s involvement in his brother’s disappearance to the point of fliers posted within the last several weeks by an unknown source around town alleging him to be a person of interest.
Included in the Tribe’s press release was a rebuke of local media’s handling of the news, citing how, during the discovery of Isaac Hunt’s remains, a Valley News Live reporter recorded footage and attempted to gather material at the scene despite being advised by Tribal personnel that recording was not appropriate due to cultural expectations, family privacy, and the transition into an active investigative area.
“The Spirit Lake Tribe does not condone the reporter’s actions or the subsequent use of footage obtained without permission,” Alberts said in the press release. “The conduct did not align with Tribal protocols, cultural safety expectations, or the direction provided by Spirit Lake Public Relations and law enforcement.”
She added that the Tribe had been aware of certain information, but chose not to release it out of respect for the family, until notifications were complete and confirmation was official.
“Unfortunately, some media outlets chose not to wait and published information before the Tribe was able to issue a formal statement,” she said. “This caused additional pain to the family and underscores a long-standing issue: the distrust and disconnect that often exists between Tribal Nations and the media. When reporting prioritizes speed over accuracy, cultural respect, or human dignity, the harm ripples through entire communities.”
Citing those examples, Alberts said that, effective immediately, any and all media outlets wishing to enter the exterior boundaries of the Spirit Lake Reservation must coordinate directly with the Spirit Lake Public Relations Office prior to arrival, adding, “While freedom of the press is a constitutional right, media representatives entering Tribal lands do so under the jurisdiction of the Spirit Lake Tribe and are expected to comply with the Spirit Lake Tribal Law and Order Code and all cultural and public safety protocols.”
“It is deeply unfortunate that these steps are necessary, but the Tribe views this as a learning experience,” Alberts continued. “We will be developing clearer Tribal legislation and strengthened policies to ensure that incidents like this do not happen again.”
The Tribe has requested an internal review by Valley News Live and is working with the station’s leadership to establish trauma-informed, culturally respectful reporting standards within Tribal boundaries.
“Isaac’s family never stopped fighting for him, and their commitment reflects the courage and love that define our people,” the Tribal Council said in a joint statement. “As we mourn alongside them, we ask our community to rally around this family with compassion and unity. This is not a time for judgment—this is a time for support, healing, and togetherness.”
On Saturday, Nov. 9 of last year, Hunt’s family held a public walk and candlelight vigil in an effort to continue spreading awareness, then an organized search was held the following weekend for Isaac Hunt and Jemini Posey, who also went missing in January of last year; the Spirit Lake Tribe had been offering a $20,000 reward for information leading to their recovery. Posey had been an acquaintance of Isaac Hunt, but any connection between their disappearance has yet to be determined.
