Adams Man Arrested Following Incident

A 65-year-old Adams man has been arrested and is charged with the murder of his 36-year-old daughter.

According to the criminal complaint, filed in Walsh County District Court in Grafton on Thursday, Walsh County Sheriff’s officers received a report of an incident at a rural Adams residence, and that the man, Steven Donald Aune, was suicidal and had a firearm in his hand.

When authorities arrived, they attempted five times to get Aune to the door. After the fifth time, Aune came to the phone, holding a cell phone in his hand, and told the person on the phone with him, “They’re here to arrest me.”

Aune went on to tell officers that he was “tired of his kids leaching off him.”

He stated multiple times that there were no guns in the residence.

During the investigation, officers were informed the victim, who was later identified as Stephanie Aune, was at First Care Hospital in Park River with a gunshot wound to the abdomen.

Aune had told a family member that he “punched or shoved the victim in the stomach.”

The family member then described what the scene sounded like, and Aune’s demeanor changed. Aune later said he had a .22 semiautomatic and that it discharged.

Aune was placed under arrest and transported to the Walsh County Law Enforcement Center.

The female victim, who is the shooter’s daughter, died later at the hospital.

Aune is facing a Class AA Felony murder charge.

He was in court Thursday afternoon for a bond hearing, which was set with conditions.

He will be due back in court May 23.