A man convicted in one of the most disturbing cases in central Wisconsin history has been sentenced to fifty years in prison. Edward Lanphear will be eligible for parole at age 97.
In June, the 47 year-old Lanphear pleaded no contest to two counts of kidnapping and two counts of sexual assault. Nine other felonies were dropped.
Lanphear was accused of abducting and sexually assaulting a 23-year-old man and a 22-year-old man last July. He allegedly chained one man to his basement floor; the other was chained in his garage.
The men were rescued after Lanphear left the property to get cigarettes for the man chained in the garage. He was able to free himself and run to a neighbor's house to call authorities.
It was clear Lanphear had planned the abductions. Authorities revealed he preinstalled "fasteners" that were used to keep his victims chained at his very normal-looking Saratoga home.
Lanphear had no criminal record and had worked at a Wisconsin Rapids paper mill for 20 years.