August 2, 2024 – Village of Richfield, WI – UPDATE: Village of Richfield Homicide
Authority: Lieutenant of Detectives Tim Kemps
The suspect in the August 1, 2024, early morning homicide in the 3500 block of Pleasant Hill appeared in Washington County Circuit Court on Friday afternoon.
Judge Sandra Giernoth found there was probable cause, the 41-year-old Village of Richfield man committed 1st Degree Reckless Homicide against his 42-year-old girlfriend.
Judge Giernoth set bond at $750,000 and gave the State seven days to file formal charges against the suspect. He remains in custody at the Washington County Jail. Because no formal charges have been filed, we are not releasing the suspects’ names at this time.
The investigation has revealed the shooting occurred in a camper trailer where the couple had been staying, during a domestic dispute in which the suspect became angry and pulled the firearm out. He fired the handgun once, striking the victim and fatally wounding her.
The suspect then went into a residence on the property and spoke with family members before the Sheriff’s Office received an abandoned 911 call from the residence at a little after 4 am. Deputies responded to the scene to investigate and discovered the deceased victim and took the suspect into custody.
Cases like these are complex and take significant time and resources. We have an obligation to the victim’s family and our community to conduct a meticulous investigation to determine what exactly occurred in that trailer so we can present an accurate and complete set of facts to the Washington County District Attorney’s Office for a charging decision.
We have been working closely with the DA’s office and the Washington County Medical Examiner’s Office from the onset and are confident that homicide charges will be formally filed next week against the suspect.
Washington County Sheriff Martin Schulteis said of the incident, “On behalf of my entire office I extend our deepest condolences to the victim’s family and friends and want our entire community to know we have dedicated a significant number of resources who are working tirelessly to ensure the victim has a voice and justice is served against this perpetrator.”
August 1, 2024 – Village of Richfield, WI – The Washington County Sheriff’s Office has taken a 41-year-old Richfield man into custody in connection with the death of a 42-year-old Washington County woman.
The investigation began Thursday morning, August 1, 2024, at 4:06 a.m. when deputies were dispatched to a residence in the 3500 block of Pleasant Hill for an abandoned 911 call.
Upon arrival, deputies found the victim deceased.
The suspect was apprehended at the scene and is currently in custody at the Washington County sheriff’s office. It has been determined the victim was known to the suspect.
This case remains active and on-going. The sheriff’s office is handling the case with caution to protect the integrity of the investigation while also balancing the need for the community to remain informed.
Out of respect for the families involved, we are not releasing any further information until all next of kin have been notified. Additional information will be provided as the investigation continues.
With the suspect already in custody, and no ongoing threat to the public, investigators are working diligently to gather all the relevant details and evidence.
Our public safety partners involved in this incident include the Wisconsin State Patrol, the Germantown Police Department, the Richfield Fire Department, and the Washington County Medical Examiner’s Office.
Pursuant to the directive of the Wisconsin Supreme Court, as found in Supreme Court Rule 20:3.6, Trial Publicity, be advised that a charge is merely an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty.