Duell McCall Clifton, 25, Minot, pleaded guilty on Monday to Class AA felony murder. He admitted to strangling his wife, Alytreus Clifton, 22, to death on June 8, 2020, at their Minot residence and then driving to South Dakota. After the murder, he had covered his wife with a blanket, put her in his car, and drove to Faith, S.D., where he was arrested. Authorities discovered Alytreus Clifton deceased in Duell Clifton’s car.

There is a negotiated plea deal between the prosecution and the defense but North Central District Judge Gary Lee said he was not prepared to accept the plea deal yet. Lee accepted Clifton’s guilty plea and then ordered a pre-sentence investigation that must include a psychological evaluation and a drug and alcohol dependency evaluation. Clifton was evaluated at the North Dakota State Hospital in Jamestown and was found fit to stand trial, according to statements made at the change of plea hearing, and Ward County State’s Attorney Roza Larson said she is not aware that Clifton has any past history of mental health problems.

Lee scheduled a two hour sentencing hearing for July 9 but said the hearing might be moved up if the pre-sentence investigation can be completed any sooner.

Larson said a Class C felony tampering with physical evidence charge against Clifton will be dismissed at the sentencing hearing.

The prosecution has referred to the victim throughout as “Jane Doe” per the state’s Marsy’s Law, but police had earlier identified her as Alytreus C. Clifton. The Minot Daily News published a marriage record for Duell McCall Clifton and Alytreus Cierah Rowe in May 2018.

Clifton has been held in custody since the murder. The maximum sentence for Class AA felony murder is life without the possibility of parole.