Fort Totten man pleads guilty to assault and voluntary manslaughter in Spirit Lake cases

A Fort Totten man pleaded guilty to multiple federal charges tied to two incidents on the Spirit Lake Reservation, according to a statement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of North Dakota. Kolby Jae McKay, also known as Kolby Woods, 33, pleaded guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon, assault of a spouse, intimate partner or dating partner by strangulation and voluntary manslaughter before Chief Judge Peter D. Welte. Sentencing is scheduled for July 22, 2026.

According to the statement, the assault charges stem from a March 13, 2024, incident involving a woman identified as “Jane Doe.” He also pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter in the April 3, 2024, killing of Monte Ray Herman Sr. McKay fled after the killing, prompting a curfew and reward notice by the Spirit Lake Tribal Council, according to the statement.