Mark Russell

A Fort Dodge man accused of killing his ex-girlfriend’s mother in January 2020 will claim self-defense at his upcoming trial.

Mark David Russell, 30, is facing a first-degree murder charge after police say he killed 45-year-old Angela McLeod in her North 14th Street home on Jan. 20, 2020, following an apparent altercation that Fort Dodge Police responded to twice.

According to the police report of the incident, Russell allegedly struck McLeod at least three times with a golf club, killing her.

On Thursday, attorneys for Russell filed a notice of self-defense, notifying the court that the defendant plans to rely on the defense of self-defense and/or defense of another during the trial proceedings. Russell is scheduled to go to trial Aug. 23.