Murder charges filed for Wadena shooting

Antonio St. Marie, 26, has been charged with 2nd degree murder, along with ten other counts, including kidnapping to commit bodily harm, assault with a dangerous weapon and violating a no contact order, in a complaint filed in the Wadena County Court.

According to the complaint, on Nov. 7 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.

When Wadena Police arrived, they saw Antonio run to a vehicle and drive away. Police chased the vehicle on Highway 29 at speeds of up to 80 miles per hour and reported that Antonio was driving recklessly before crashing into a truck that was traveling in the opposite direction. Following the crash, he was flown to a medical facility to treat his injuries.

Felony fleeing a peace officer is one of the charges against St. Marie.

After the chase, authorities found Margaret St. Marie dead due to a gunshot wound in her head.

The murder charge and kidnapping charge each carry a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison.

Antonio St. Marie has prior convictions for felony terroristic threats and felony domestic assault.