Russell Craig has pleaded guilty to murdering his wife, Pamela Sue Johnson-Craig.

Craig, 43, entered the guilty plea to South Central District Judge Bruce Romanick on Wednesday at the Burleigh County Courthouse. Craig did not say much during the short hearing.

Craig was slated to go to trial Monday for the murder of Johnson-Craig.

Romanick will sentence Craig after a presentence investigation is conducted. Craig could face up to life in prison.

Terrie Gordon, Johnson-Craig's sister, said she was "just kind of numb" after hearing that Craig had pleaded guilty.

"I just want justice done," she said in a phone call from South Carolina. "My sister didn't deserve to die."

Craig was charged with murder, a Class AAfelony, on June 5 for the June 3 murder of Johnson-Craig. He pleaded not guilty on Aug. 11.

Burleigh County State's Attorney Richard Riha said a 911 call from a neighbor of Johnson-Craig on June 3 alerted police and medical authorities to a stabbing at No. 37 in the Chance Mobile Home Park, 2406 E. Thayer Ave.

When police arrived, Johnson-Craig, 47, was in the doorway of her home and was bleeding profusely from three stab wounds to her back, Riha said.

"She was conscious when police arrived," he said.

Riha said Johnson-Craig could be heard on the 911 call identifying Craig as the person who stabbed her. That's a piece of evidence that prosecutors rarely have during a murder case.

"I can't recall any other case where that has happened," Riha said.

Burleigh County Assistant State's Attorney Cynthia Feland, who is prosecuting the case with Riha, said police initially treated the case as an assault. However, one of Johnson-Craig's stab wounds punctured her pulmonary artery in the back of her heart, causing the internal bleeding that killed her, Riha said.

Feland said the wound had drained the blood from Johnson-Craig's heart, and she had little chance of survival.

When authorities learned that Johnson-Craig had died from her injuries at a Bismarck hospital, the case became a murder investigation, Feland said.

Riha said Craig left in Johnson-Craig's car after stabbing her. His car was spotted at a Hazen hotel, and authorities coaxed him out of his hotel room.

Police told Craig to get down on the ground, which he did, Riha said. Then, they told him to crawl toward them. Riha said Craig asked if Johnson-Craig was dead, and police told him they would deal with that later.

Craig got off the ground and attempted to run, and police shot him with a Tazer, Riha said.

DNA swabs taken from the clothing Craig was wearing matched Johnson-Craig's DNA, Riha said.

Riha, Feland and Craig's appointed defense attorney, Todd Schwarz, went over evidence that would have been presented at trial at a pretrial conference Tuesday morning. Craig was present at the hearing. Feland and Riha said they went through photographs of the bloody crime scene.

Riha said he thinks Craig did some soul searching and decided to "own up to what he had done" after seeing the evidence at the hearing. Craig showed remorse throughout the court proceedings, Feland said.

Prosecutors are not certain of Craig's motive in the murder, but they said Johnson-Craig had kicked Craig out of the mobile home several weeks before the murder.

"This is basically a domestic violence case," Riha said.

Feland said the case was unusual for a domestic case, because police had no prior record of physical altercations between the couple. Craig had contacted law enforcement several days before the murder to ask for help in getting back in the residence, she said.

Feland and Riha did not wish to comment on what they plan to recommend as a sentence for Craig. They said they will review the presentence investigation and a chemical addiction evaluation before the sentencing.

Gordon said she and her family are still struggling to come to terms with Johnson-Craig's death.

"She was just a very special person, and I just don't think he should ever get out of prison," Gordon said.

(Reach reporter Jenny Michael at 250-8225 or jenny.michael@;bismarcktribune.com.)