MOORHEAD, N.D. (Valley News Live) – A Moorhead man accused of stabbing his mother to death will face a jury trial this fall on upgraded murder charges.
James Kollie Jr., now 28, is charged with first-degree premeditated murder and second-degree murder in the death of his mother, 56-year-old Receia Kollie, on December 2, 2022, at her home in south Moorhead.
Prosecutors upgraded the charges from second-degree murder to first-degree premeditated murder in August 2025. His bail was also increased to $4 million without conditions, or $2 million with conditions including GPS monitoring, no alcohol or drug use with random testing, and no contact with witnesses.
According to new court documents filed in Clay County District Court, a three-week jury trial is set to begin September 28 at 8:30 a.m. A roll call and settlement conference is scheduled for September 24.
Background
Kollie was arrested in Wahpeton the day after his mother’s death. After fighting extradition for more than a month in the Richland County Jail, he was transferred to Clay County in January 2023. His bail was initially set at $3 million without conditions, or $1.5 million with conditions.
Moorhead Police were called to Receia Kollie’s home on December 1, 2022 after a family member called 911 saying they found her deceased inside the home. Police say there was no sign of forced entry.
Court documents say investigators found a receipt for M&H in Moorhead from November 30 inside the home. After watching surveillance video, investigators saw Kollie buying a facemask and gloves.
Investigators later learned Kollie had been arrested just four days before the homicide on domestic assault charges against his mother. Court documents say during the November 27 incident, Kollie threatened his mother, and a witness recorded part of the incident and played it for officers. Officers spoke with Receia on scene, who told officers Kollie had her locked inside a bathroom. Receia reported that her son threatened to kill her, and she was afraid.
Kollie was released from the Clay County Correctional Facility on November 29 with bond conditions that included a restraining order prohibiting contact with his mom.
Court documents say cell phone records show Kollie trying to call the victim using *67 before the murder, which makes a caller’s number come up as ‘Unknown’ on caller ID.
During Kollie’s interview with investigators, court documents say he told them that after being released from jail, he hitchhiked to Wahpeton.
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