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Murder defendant arraigned in prior domestic abuse case

Justin Hurdel, the Fort Dodge man accused of killing his estranged wife in an Aug. 5 shooting, pleaded not guilty Monday to a domestic abuse charge involving her.

Hurdel, 43, entered the plea for the July 20 serious misdemeanor, domestic abuse assault causing injury or mental illness – first offense, in a written arraignment. The criminal complaint for the charge alleges that Hurdel grabbed Maggie Flint (known as Maggie Hurdel during their marriage) by her throat and threw her to the ground on July 11, leaving marks on her neck.

Less than a month later, Flint, 38, was found dead after being shot outside a garage in the 500 block of South 19th Street, for which Hurdel faces a first-degree murder charge. He has pleaded not guilty.

Witnesses described an incensed confrontation immediately prior to the shooting where Hurdel announced his intent to kill Flint before returning with a shotgun, according to criminal complaints. A warrant for Hurdel’s arrest, for violation of a protective order after he allegedly tried to contact her multiple times through text messages and phone calls, was issued less than three hours before police received the call for shots fired.

Family members of Flint previously told The Messenger that the victim had been attempting to serve a divorce petition to Hurdel for almost a year.

Prior to this year, Flint told police that Hurdel explicitly threatened to kill her, police reports from November 2019 said. The charge resulting from that incident, third-degree harassment, was adjudicated as disorderly conduct and disposed with a $147.75 fine.

Hurdel was arrested twice in July for domestic abuse assault involving Flint and was charged in February 2012 with stalking in violation of a protective order involving another victim.

A jury trial has been scheduled to start Nov. 3. Hurdel remains in Webster County Jail on a $1 million bond.

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