A Kittson County murder case that has gripped the small towns of Kennedy and Hallock for more than a year is now headed straight for sentencing. Jordan Carol Hanson of Kennedy has pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the March 13, 2025 shooting death of 43-year-old Justin Esparza inside his Hallock home.
Prosecutors say Hanson shot Esparza in the head, then took off in his truck with his dog before she was arrested. The plea was entered last Thursday in Kittson County District Court and handled by the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office after local prosecutors asked the state to step in.
According to the Minnesota Attorney General's Office, Hanson admitted to the second-degree murder charge during the plea hearing. The office said she used Esparza’s own handgun and then left the scene in his vehicle with his dog. Attorney General Keith Ellison stated, “My team and the Kittson County Attorney’s Office are holding Jordan Hanson accountable for the murder she committed in March of 2025.” Local outlets, including KNOX Radio, also reported the plea.
Why The Attorney General Took The Case
Kittson County Attorney Robert Albrecht referred the prosecution to Ellison’s office under Minnesota Statutes section 8.01, which allows the attorney general to appear in criminal cases at the request of a county attorney. That route is sometimes used when local prosecutors ask for additional resources or specialized help with serious or complex cases.
What Investigators Said Happened
Initial court filings and contemporaneous news reports state that deputies responded to a 911 call on March 13, 2025 and found Esparza dead inside his Hallock residence. A handgun was recovered near his body. A witness later told investigators that he had been smoking meth with Hanson and Esparza in the home and saw Hanson fire the fatal shot.
The original criminal complaint charged Hanson with both second-degree and third-degree murder, and she was arrested shortly after the shooting, according to earlier coverage. For additional background, see reporting by the Grand Forks Herald.
Sentencing And Possible Penalties
A formal sentencing hearing is scheduled for July, according to Bring Me The News. Under Minnesota law, a second-degree murder conviction carries a maximum possible sentence of 40 years in prison, as reflected in state court materials and statutes, including a Minnesota court memorandum.
Family members have remembered Esparza as having “a big heart” and have been publicly mourning his loss, local coverage has noted. Prosecutors have thanked the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and local law enforcement agencies for their work on the investigation. With Hanson’s guilty plea now on the record, the year-long case that began with Esparza’s March 2025 death shifts to the question of how much prison time she will serve.
