White Shield man charged with murder of woman, attack caught on camera

WHITE SHIELD, N.D. (KMOT) – A White Shield man is facing murder charges after federal prosecutors said he killed his girlfriend by strangulation and the attack was recorded on a surveillance camera in his home.

Derick Wilkinson is accused of premeditated murder in Indian Territory and bodily harm to his partner by strangulation.

According to a criminal complaint, authorities responded to a fire at a White Shield family home on the morning of August 9.

The complaint states that 34-year-old Wilkinson and his brother were in the house at the time and helped authorities get the two children out of the house.

The woman's body was found in an upstairs bedroom. An autopsy revealed a broken bone in her neck consistent with strangulation, and the medical examiner believed she was already dead before the fire, the lawsuit says.

Investigators said they learned the victim had a surveillance camera installed in her apartment, and the footage showed Wilkinson attacking her with objects in the house, dragging her across the floor by her hair and strangling her.

Wilkinson made his first appearance on the charges in U.S. District Court on Monday.

According to online records, Wilkinson has been in custody at the Ward County Jail in Minot since Tuesday.

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