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Violence Free Minnesota, the coalition to end relationship abuse, remembers Melissa Hunt, the 11th confirmed victim of intimate partner homicide in Minnesota in 2025.

Melissa Hunt, 36, was shot and killed in Wabasha County, Minnesota on June 18, 2025. Craig Hameister, 44, Melissa’s ex-partner and the father of her youngest daughter, is charged with two counts of second-degree murder and one count of first-degree manslaughter. 

On the afternoon of June 18, police were called to the West Newton area, where Melissa was found badly injured. She had driven into someone’s driveway to ask for help. Melissa had been shot in the face, which resulted in severe facial injuries. Her teeth were falling out and a portion of her jaw was missing. Melissa was taken to the hospital, where she passed away. 

Hameister was arrested on June 19 after he fled and hid from the police for several hours, which also triggered a shelter-in-place order in Marion Township the prior night. He was found with a pistol. Hameister has a history of domestic violence which includes stalking, terroristic threats, and domestic assault charges and convictions dating at least as far back as 2006.

Melissa Hunt was described as “such a light,” “a beautiful soul,” and someone who “had a big heart and loved life.” 

She leaves behind two daughters.

A GoFundMe has been set up to Help Honor Melissa's Memory & to help with her daughter's expenses and future needs:   Fundraiser by Renee Lipscomb : Help Honor Melissa Hunt's Memory 

Learn more here: https://www.vfmn.org/we-remember-2025 #WeRememberMN 

Violence Free Minnesota, the coalition to end relationship abuse, remembers Lissette Joy Nelson, the 10th confirmed victim of intimate partner homicide in Minnesota in 2025.

Lissette Joy Nelson, 62, was shot and killed by her husband Bradley Nelson, 63, in their home in Hermantown, Minnesota on June 13, 2025. Bradley then shot and killed himself. Police were called to their home that morning for a “physical domestic violence call," where they found both deceased. Lissette had been staying away from their home out of fear for her safety and had called police the day before after being confronted by Bradley. 

Bradley was under a civil commitment for mental illness and had been threatening family members and acting aggressively prior to the shooting. He had been hospitalized and placed under civil commitments several times since November 2023. At the time of the shooting, he was under a provisional discharge, but the county requested an apprehension order to return him to a hospital or mental health facility. A judge issued the warrant to apprehend him 30 minutes before he shot and killed Lissette. Previously, he was convicted three times for domestic assault and once for violating a no-contact order in the early 2010s. At least seven domestic violence orders for protection were sought against him around the same time, including four filed by Lissette. 

Lissette was described by loved ones as “very generous with her time,” “witty and bold,” and deeply committed to the sport of boxing. Lissette spent many hours refereeing boxing matches and officiated at the national level. At one point she was the Chief of Officials for Minnesota Local Boxing Committee #30 and held many boxing clinics. 

We remember Lissette Joy Nelson.

Learn more here: https://www.vfmn.org/we-remember-2025 #WeRememberMN 

Violence Free Minnesota, the coalition to end relationship abuse, retroactively remembers Elizabeth Victoria Perrault, the 15th confirmed victim of intimate partner homicide in Minnesota in 2018.

Elizabeth Victoria Perrault, 41, was found deceased in a holding pond south of the Minnesota River in Burnsville on April 22, 2018. She had not been seen or heard from by loved ones since October 2017. Uriah Schulz, 41, Elizabeth’s boyfriend, was sentenced to 15 years in prison in May 2019 after pleading guilty to first-degree manslaughter. Police found bloodstains in her apartment, where Schulz had been living. The Hennepin County Medical Examiner determined her death was a homicide and involved blunt force trauma and bone fractures. Schulz lied to the police about Elizabeth’s disappearance and later claimed he “blacked out” during an argument and “found her body."

Elizabeth Victoria Perrault leaves behind three children and was described as “one of the most giving and down-to-earth people you would ever meet” with an infectious laugh and sense of humor.

Why Violence Free Minnesota Releases Retroactive We Remembers
VFM relies heavily on media reporting as the primary source for our Intimate Partner Homicide Reports. While we do our best to track and confirm homicides as they arise, sometimes, unfortunately we may miss homicides due to the limitations of relying on manual news searching. 

We believe all victims of intimate partner homicide in Minnesota deserve recognition and to be memorialized. We now remember the 15 known victims on fintimate partner homicide in Minnesota in 2018.

Learn more here: https://www.vfmn.org/we-remember-2025 #WeRememberMN 

Violence Free Minnesota, the coalition to end relationship abuse, remembers Kinsley Prinsen, the 9th confirmed victim of intimate partner homicide in Minnesota in 2025.

Kinsley Prinsen, 2, was shot and killed inside her home in Minneapolis on June 9, 2025. Kinsley’s father Scott Devery, 50, shot and killed Kinsley and then himself in front of Kinsley’s mother, with whom he had been in a relationship for seven years. Kinsley’s mother told the media that Devery held her and Kinsley hostage in their home, and that she was unable to call 911 for fear of him seeing her phone. Kinsley’s mother said that before Devery shot and killed himself and Kinsley, he told Kinsley’s mother that he was “going to make sure that I live in misery the rest of my life without my baby girl and without him.” Kinsley was running to get a hug from Devery when he killed her. 

Kinsley Prinsen was described as a “beautiful angel” who was “always happy” and “as young as she was, she made a difference in a lot of people’s lives. She could cheer anyone up.” 

GoFundMe for Kinsley's funeral costs: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-cover-kinsleys-funeral-costs 

Learn more here: https://www.vfmn.org/we-remember-2025 #WeRememberMN 

Violence Free Minnesota, the coalition to end relationship abuse, remembers Tabitha Renee Justice, the 8th confirmed victim of intimate partner homicide in Minnesota in 2025.

Tabitha Renee Justice, 46, was found dead of a gunshot wound to the head on January 28, 2025, at an abandoned property in Jordan. Tabitha had been reported missing earlier that day by a relative who said they had not seen her since December 10. Police officers found Tabitha’s body in a nearby outbuilding when they went to her last known address. 

On May 23, 2025, John Peterson, 41, was charged with second-degree murder. Tabitha’s friends told police that Tabitha had been in a relationship with Peterson and had at some point been living with him. Tabitha’s friends said Tabitha told them Peterson was “physically aggressive” and “very controlling.” They also informed police that Peterson kept “finding and following” Tabitha after he had allegedly made her leave his home. Peterson was previously twice convicted for weapons or ammunition offenses and was legally prohibited from possessing a firearm when he killed Tabitha. Tabitha Renee 

Justice was described by friends as “beautiful and funny; such a sweet and loving person.” 

She leaves behind several children.

Learn more here: https://www.vfmn.org/we-remember-2025 #WeRememberMN