The man convicted of murdering a well-known advocate for domestic abuse victims in Marinette County will spend life in prison, without the possibility of parole.
The late April murder of Trish Waschbisch shocked Marinette County, because of her role as an advocate at the Rainbow House in Marinette, a shelter for domestic abuse victims. Brent Kaempf, her boyfriend, pleaded no contest to the murder, and was sentenced Friday to life in prison without parole.
Marinette County Assistant District Attorney Kent Hoffman was pleased with the outcome, although he said it was “by far one of the saddest cases I have ever worked” in his more than 25 years involved in the criminal justice system. Hoffman says he worked with Waschbisch many times, describing her as a person who fought hard on behalf of everyone she advocated for.
Kaempf’s no contest plea in November to a charge of First Degree Intentional Homicide carried a mandatory life sentence in prison, but the judge could have made him eligible for parole after 20 years. Marinette County Judge David Miron decided during sentencing Friday not to allow Kaempf to be released eventually under extended supervision.
Ken Conners, WGAN
