Kolby Jae McKay, also known as Kolby Woods, from Fort Totten, North Dakota, pleaded guilty on April 2 to charges of assault with a dangerous weapon, assault by strangulation of an intimate partner, and voluntary manslaughter in United States District Court for the District of North Dakota. The announcement was made by United States Attorney Nicholas W. Chase.
The case is significant because it involves two separate violent incidents that took place on the Spirit Lake Reservation and led to a community-wide response. McKay remains detained pending sentencing, which is scheduled for July 22.
According to court records, McKay admitted guilt in two cases. In the first incident on March 13, 2024, he assaulted a woman identified as “Jane Doe,” with whom he had a dating relationship. During this incident, McKay held a knife to Jane Doe’s neck before she pushed it away; he then strangled her until she nearly lost consciousness.
In the second case just weeks later on April 3, McKay pleaded guilty to killing Monte Ray Herman Sr., an act described as voluntary manslaughter. Following this event, authorities said that McKay fled and was at large for several days. The Spirit Lake Tribal Council responded by issuing a community curfew and offering a reward for information about his whereabouts.
The investigation involved multiple agencies including the Bureau of Indian Affairs and Federal Bureau of Investigation with support from local law enforcement such as Benson and Eddy County Sheriff’s Departments and other state agencies. Assistant United States Attorneys Samantha Schmidt and Lori Conroy are prosecuting the case.
Sentencing will take place in July as authorities continue their efforts addressing violent crime within tribal communities.
