Bond was set at $2 million cash or corporate surety for Richie Edwin Wilder Jr., 29, who is accused of murdering his ex-wife Angila Wilder.

Angila Wilder, 30, was found dead in her home at 519-16th St. NW in Minot on Nov. 13. Richie Edwin Wilder Jr. was arrested by Minot police on Friday and is being held at the Ward County Jail.

All documents in the case have been sealed and none of the details of the case have been made public.

However, Ward County State’s Attorney Roza Larson argued in court on Monday that Wilder should be held without bond because he is facing a Class AA felony murder charge, because she said the state has such strong evidence against Wilder and because of the condition in which Angila Wilder was found. She said Richie Wilder does not have a criminal record and is remarried, but is not from Minot and does not have significant ties to the community. As an alternative, Larson suggested that Wilder be held on $2 million bond. In similar cases across the state, bond has been set at $200,000 to $2.3 million, said Larson.

“I’ve been here for five and a half years,” Richie Wilder told Judge Richard Hagar. “I’m not going anywhere.”

Wilder, who appeared via interactive television from the Ward County Jail, was calm and composed during his initial appearance. He told the judge that his children go to school in Minot and he would like to be able to take them to counseling and speech appointments.

Hagar agreed to the $2 million bond and set a preliminary hearing date for 11 a.m. on Jan. 28. The state has not requested a no contact order for Wilder and anyone involved with the case.

If convicted of Class AA felony murder, Wilder could face life in prison without parole. Larson said the state’s 85 percent rule would apply, requiring that he serve at least 85 percent of any sentence imposed before he is eligible for parole.

A memorial service for Angila Wilder was held Nov. 21 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Minot. According to an obituary published by Hertz Funeral Home of Harvey, Angila Wilder had attended schools in Alabama and was a student in the nursing program at Minot State University. She had three children.