On May 12, 2022, the body of 52-year-old William Harold Hess Jr. was discovered in a homemade camper in a wooded area west of 380th Avenue in Hill Lake Township, Hill City, Minnesota. The Aitkin County Sheriff's Office responded to the scene after receiving a report from individuals who stumbled upon the body while 'mudding.' The camper, known to be inhabited by Hess Jr., was found to contain his severely decomposed body.
The Ramsey County Medical Examiner's Office determined that the cause of death was a single bullet wound to the skull, with the entry point through the eye and the projectile lodged inside the skull.
The investigation led to the arrest of Hess Jr.'s brother, 48-year-old James Robert Hess, who was charged with second-degree murder. James Hess was taken into custody at his home without incident and booked into the Aitkin County Jail. According to the criminal complaint, James Hess had expressed frustration with his brother, accusing him of breaking into his home and causing trouble. Text messages exchanged between James Hess and a man named Adam revealed that James had threatened to 'end this once and for all' if his brother continued his behavior.
James Hess's bail was set at $1 million or a $500,000 non-cash bond with conditions. He remains in custody with additional charges pending. The case highlights the tragic outcome of a familial dispute that escalated to violence, resulting in the death of William Harold Hess Jr. and the subsequent arrest of his brother.
