A Cloquet man is accused of strangling and threatening to kill the victim while wielding a sharp piece of metal and ordering a child to bring him a knife, prosecutors say.

Jeremy Joe Defoe, 30, faces five felony charges: second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon, kidnapping to facilitate a felony or flight, false imprisonment, domestic assault by strangulation and felony domestic assault. The charges were filed August 17 in Saint Louis County District Court.

According to the complaint, Fond Du Lac police responded to a residence on Rustic Lane in Saint Louis County on August 14 after the victim reported that Defoe had assaulted her. Officers met the victim at a relative’s home and observed dried blood on her clothing, scratch marks on her neck and a swollen left hand. The victim told officers she and Defoe began arguing about his drinking, and that his minor children were present during the argument.

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The victim said she tried to leave the home with her son but returned to retrieve her medications and belongings. When she came back, Defoe continued yelling, threw a glass jar at her and began kicking the dog. The victim told Defoe she would call 911, which made him more upset. Defoe tried to grab her phone, pulling at her arms and hands, then pushed her to the floor, took the phone and threw it away.

The complaint states Defoe crawled on top of the victim and used both forearms to apply pressure to her neck, preventing her from breathing. He allegedly told the victim he was going to go to jail for a long time and might as well make it worth it, saying, “I just want to f****** kill you.” Defoe then told his minor daughter to get a knife from the kitchen so he could “kill this b****,” but the child refused and cried.

Defoe ripped the TV off the wall, picked up a sharp piece of metal and made motions toward the victim, indicating he would cut her pregnant stomach, then her throat and head. The victim told officers she feared for her life. Each time she tried to escape, Defoe chased her and prevented her from leaving. At one point, he slammed a door on her hand as she tried to get out.

The victim attempted to escape four or five times, including trying to go out a window, but Defoe stopped her each time. His minor children witnessed the entire incident.

Court records note Defoe has multiple prior domestic violence-related convictions, including fifth-degree assault in October 2025 and violation of a domestic abuse no contact order in January 2023.

A court date has not yet been set.

About This Charge

Minnesota’s kidnapping statute is § 609.25. A conviction carries up to 20 years in prison when the victim is released in a safe place without great bodily harm, and up to 40 years when those mitigating conditions are absent. Related offenses include false imprisonment (§ 609.255) and depriving another of parental rights (§ 609.26).

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Jurisdictional Context

Saint Louis County is Minnesota’s largest county by area, stretching from Duluth to the Canadian border. The Saint Louis County Attorney’s Office prosecutes felonies through the Sixth Judicial District; cases are heard at the Saint Louis County Courthouse in Duluth and the Virginia courthouse for cases north of the iron range.