A Fort Totten man has pleaded guilty to two separate counts of assault and voluntary manslaughter in U.S. District Court in Fargo.

U.S. Attorney Nicholas Chase announced the change of plea on April 2 by Kolby Jae McKay, 33, who will be detained pending sentencing, which is set for July 22. According to information from the U.S. attorney’s office, McKay pleaded guilty before Chief Judge Peter Welte to charges of assault with a dangerous weapon, assault of a spouse/intimate partner/dating partner by strangulation and voluntary manslaughter in two separate cases.

The assault charges stemmed from a March 13, 2024, incident in which McKay became upset with the victim, grabbed a knife and held it to her neck before strangling her until she almost lost consciousness. McKay also pled guilty to voluntary manslaughter in the death of Monte Ray Herman Sr. on April 3, 2024, on the Spirit Lake Reservation. McKay fled after killing Herman and was at large for several days.