In addition to DNA evidence, Fond du Lac Police have a pretty damaging statement from the ex-wife of a suspect in a 32-year-old murder case.
Bond was set at $500,000 cash as 53-year-old Thomas Niesen of Ashwaubenon was charged with First Degree Murder in Fond du Lac County court Tuesday morning. That's what the charge would have been under state statutes when Kathleen Leichtman was killed in July of 1976. Leichtman traveled to Fond du Lac from Milwaukee to dance at the Other Place, a strip club.
When Fond du Lac detectives interviewed Niesen's ex-wife Janet Niesen, who now goes by the name Ja Cee P. Crull, she related a conversation she had with Niesen when they both frequented the club in 1986. District Attorney Dan Kaminsky says Crull related a story Niesen told her about being involved in a woman's death. Niesen told Crull he threw the weapon used to kill the woman off a bridge near where he left her body. Leichtman was seen leaving the club with two men that night, but there is no other suspect in the case.
Kaminsky admits there will be challenges in prosecuting the case, based on how long ago the murder took place.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Friday, March 6th.
