Federal judge rejects plea deal in MMIP case

A new court date has not been set

Jolan Kruse

March 3, 2026, Bismarck, North Dakota

According to a U.S. District Court clerk for the District of North Dakota, a federal judge rejected a plea deal Monday that could have scrubbed a second-degree murder charge in the August 2024 homicide of Alexia De La Cerda, a Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara citizen.

Derick Wilkinson was charged with murder and arson after a home security camera captured him allegedly killing De La Cerda. He then allegedly locked her children in a room and set the house on fire. In the plea agreement he signed on Oct. 29, he admitted to assault with intent to commit murder and tampering with evidence.

A court clerk told Buffalo’s Fire the rejected plea deal means Wilkinson is still facing the second-degree murder charge. A court date on that charge has not yet been set.

Alexia De La Cerda at a friend’s wedding in Fort Yates, North Dakota. Saturday, July 20, 2024. (Photo Justin Deegan)

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