A north-central Minnesota man accused of fatally running down his wife with the couple’s SUV last summer has pleaded guilty to the crime.

Tony James McClelland, 47, was charged July 12 with felony second-degree murder with intent but no premeditation, felony first-degree manslaughter and two counts of criminal vehicular homicide in connection with the death of Angela Marie McClelland, 49, on a frontage road near Minnesota 371 in Fort Ripley Township south of Brainerd.

In the plea, McClelland admitted guilt to criminal vehicular homicide with negligence under the influence of alcohol. The crime carries a maximum sentence of 10 years imprisonment and/or a fine of up to $20,000.

Tony James McClelland, 47, of Fort Ripley Township, Minn., has pleaded guilty to killing his wife during a June 2023 hit-and-run with the couple SUV. (Crow Wing County Sheriff’s Office via Forum News Service)

Crow Wing County Attorney Don Ryan said he would not comment on the case until after the April 10 sentencing in Crow Wing County District Court.

McClelland’s attorney, Jack Rice, did not return a call for comment last week.

Criminal complaint

According to the criminal complaint filed against Tony McClelland, the Crow Wing County Sheriff’s Office received a report at 5:41 a.m. June 25 of an unresponsive woman lying on Legend Lane. Responding deputies found the woman suffered significant trauma to her skull and had abrasions on her body consistent with being struck by a vehicle. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

While attempting to identify the victim, investigators learned Angela McClelland was reported missing by her daughter and confirmed the victim was Angela McClelland.

Investigators also learned Tony McClelland and Angela McClelland attended a birthday party at a residence in Fort Ripley the night before, arriving together between 4:30 and 6 p.m. and leaving about 1:30 to 2 a.m. in a Ford Explorer.

Law enforcement officers spoke with Tony McClelland at the couple’s residence. When asked if he knew why officers were there, McClelland said, “yup,” according to the criminal complaint, then proceeded to “vent about how (Angela McClelland) had ‘thrown a hissy fit … just like every other … day.’ ”

Tony McClelland said he and Angela McClelland argued while driving home after the party so he dropped her off along Matte Road, which is west of where Angela McClelland’s body was found on Legend Lane. He said he then drove home, went to bed and didn’t realize Angela McClelland hadn’t returned home until the next morning.

After getting a search warrant for the couple’s vehicle and cellphones, investigators inspected the Explorer and found blood, tissue and a single strand of hair under the body of the vehicle. Tony McClelland told investigators they had not hit any animals with the vehicle recently.

When asked specifically about the blood found under the vehicle, he responded Angela McClelland was being belligerent and he was worried she would put him in the ditch, according to the criminal complaint. When asked if the blood found under the vehicle would come back as Angela McClelland’s blood, Tony McClelland said something to the effect of, “I couldn’t tell ya if it will be her blood.”

DNA testing of blood matched Angela McClelland’s blood. Review of forensic data also contradicted Tony McClelland’s version of events about what roads he was driving after leaving the party. The data showed at 1:53 a.m. June 25, the vehicle was traveling on Legend Lane, stopped and then reversed at speeds up to 20 mph to where Angela McClelland’s body was located and stopped again.

The vehicle then left the scene, reaching speeds over 100 mph before returning to the couple’s home.

On July 10, investigators questioned Tony McClelland about the forensic data placing him at the scene and the suspected time of Angela McClelland’s death.

Tony McClelland responded that Angela McClelland had “gotten mad at him for looking at another woman and was grabbing the steering wheel,” according to the criminal complaint, but then said, “‘I don’t remember much after that,’ claiming he ‘was pretty drunk, too.’”

Deputies then arrested McClelland.

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