A judge has ordered a change in location for the first-degree murder trial of a Fort Dodge man accused of killing his estranged wife.

Forty-four-year-old Justin Christopher Hurdel will now stand trial in Boone County. A Webster County judge ordered the change of venue due to local media coverage and a failure to select a jury in Webster County.

Hurdel is accused of killing his estranged wife in August of last year, police say he then led them on a man hunt for 17 hours. During that span Hurdel suffered a self inflicted gun shot wound to the face.

The trial of Justin Christopher Hurdel is set to begin in Boone County June 22.

(By Rob Jones, KVFD, Fort Dodge)

Radio Iowa