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Brittany Zimmerman’s mom speaks after life sentence imposed on her killer

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The man who murdered UW-Madison student Brittany Zimmermann in 2008 will spend the rest of his life in prison. Brittany’s mother, Jean Zimmerman, spoke after Friday’s sentencing of 56-year-old David Kahl.

“It’s extremely difficult to think about, that it’s taken this long to get to where we are today. If someone would have told me that I would be here 14 and a half, almost 15 years later; I’m not sure if I could have survived.” said Zimmerman.

Kahl, who was linked to the crime through a DNA match, pled guilty in October to first-degree intentional homicide. At his sentencing, Dane County Judge Chris Taylor denied Kahl the opportunity for extended supervision— at the recommendation of both the prosecution and Kahl’s defense attorney.

“What he did was unspeakable, and to not have the person responsible for that behind bars, it was unacceptable to us. So we were willing, and we did whatever we had to do,” Jean Zimmerman said.

Kahl offered apologies to the Zimmerman family for killing Brittany, who was 21-years-old at the time of her death. Jean Zimmerman said her daughter was working towards a career goal of working for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Bail and benefits questions will be on Wisconsin’s April statewide ballot

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WRN photo

Wisconsin voters will be able to weigh in on a proposed constitutional amendment on bail reform as part of the April statewide ballot. In Assembly debate Thursday, Representative Evan Goyke (D-Milwaukee) argued against the proposal, and for pretrial detention.

“I support pretrial detention.” Goyke said. “I support people that pose a public safety risk being held in custody. But when we make that decision and that measure solely about money, we allow a subgroup of people the opportunity to buy their way out of jail.”

The amendment’s author, Representative Cindi Duchow (R-Delafield), said pretrial detention has been on the books for decades in Wisconsin, but has never been used.

“Pretrial detention doesn’t work,” said Duchow. “It’s basically a mini trial before your trial. The victim has to come in and testify which can be traumatizing for a victim of violent crime. You have to have a whole little mini hearing. You have to have all your evidence. You have to have your DNA back. We don’t have the physical space to do it, nor do we have the finances to do it.”

Democrats argued that the proposed change will disproportionately impact low income Wisconsinites, while allowing those with the financial resources to pay higher bail amounts.

“If we’re serious about safety, there are other measures to do that,” said Representative Dora Drake (D-Milwaukee). She noted prosecutors and public defenders are understaffed and underfunded.

The measure will allow judges to consider past convictions of those charged with crimes, as well as “the need to protect the community from serious harm” and “prevent the intimidation of witnesses,” when setting bail. Judges are currently only allowed to set bail amounts to ensure an individual appears back in court.

Duchow said that will still leave judges and court commissioners with considerable discretion. “They’re gonna look back at their (defendants) past criminal convictions. They’re going to sort out the dangers to the community and then they’re going to set their bail. And if they want to set it for $10 they can do it, if they want to set it for 10 million. We are not handcuffing our judges.”

Ten Democrats voted to approve the amendment which passed 74-23, following state Senate approval on Tuesday. Passage by two consecutive legislative sessions is required before proposed constitutional amendments go to voters.

The Assembly also approved putting a nonbinding, advisory referendum on the ballot. Voters will be asked if childless, able bodied adults should be required to apply for work in order to receive state funded welfare benefits.

That’s something that’s already required under state law. “It is amazing to see the mental gymnastics that Wisconsin Republicans are actively pursuing to make sense of something that already is happening,” said Representative Christina Shelton (D-Green Bay.)

Republicans argue it’s not being enforced. This is something the state’s supposed to be doing,” said Representative Jon Plumer (R-Lodi). “It’s not the only instance in the state of Wisconsin where an agency is not following the letter of the law.”

It’s an advisory referendum, meaning no action is required if approved by voters.

FBI offers reward in firebombing at pro-life office

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The FBI is offering a $25,000 reward for information leading to an arrest for last spring’s arson at a Madison pro life office. The FBI says its investigation shows two Molotov cocktails were thrown into the office of Wisconsin Family Action early last May.

Outside the building, investigators found graffiti and a broken window. The fire was quickly put out by the Madison Fire Department and no one was hurt.

Several days after the incident, a group dubbed ‘Jane’s Revenge’ claimed credit. Wisconsin Family Action also has a 15 hundred dollar reward for information.

WIBA

Kaul announces Wisconsin Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force

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Wisconsin’s Attorney General has announced a new statewide, multi-agency task force to support survivors of human trafficking. Josh Kaul was in Milwaukee Wednesday to introduce the Wisconsin Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force, led by the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation, and Project Respect.

“This task force is designed to do is to improve our data collection so we have a clearer picture of the scope of trafficking,” Kaul said.

The AG said the collaboration will bring law enforcement and victim service providers together to investigate and prosecute human trafficking cases at the federal and local levels. The effort is funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Justice Office for Victims of Crime.

 

Morris pleads guilty in fatal 2021 Weston stabbing

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A Marathon County man entered a guilty plea to first-degree intentional homicide on Tuesday. David Morris was given the mandatory life sentence without the possibility of parole for stabbing Renee Hindes in the spring of 2021 at a Weston apartment, then threatening police with the knife as they responded to the scene.

Morris, who was shot by officers but survived, will also pay $5,000 into the crime victims fund and will pay court costs. The plea deal saw a handful of other charges, including false imprisonment and a count of battery by prisoners, dismissed but read in. Morris has been held at the Dodge Correctional Institute while awaiting trial, it’s unclear if that is also where he will serve his sentence.

WSAU

Milwaukee Common Council approves zoning for new youth prison

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The Milwaukee Common Council voted Tuesday to approve rezoning for construction of a new youth prison in the city. The new facility, which would replace the troubled Lincoln Hills youth detention facility in central Wisconsin, would house the state’s most serious young offenders.

Department of Corrections Secretary Kevin Carr said the new Milwaukee facility will keep youth from committing more crime, as well as keep them in the justice system. “One of the hopes of being able to move our youth closer to home is to be better able to engage the families in some sort of counseling and therapy,” Carr said.

The site chosen, a former Milwaukee emissions testing center, was selected by Governor Tony Evers’ administration last August.

 

School bus law violations increase in Marathon County

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The Sheriff’s Office in Marathon County says in a Facebook post there’s an increase in citations issued for motorists not obeying bus laws in the county. The department states in the post they’ve spoken with a few local bus companies which say roughly 20 violations occur in Marathon County each week.

The sheriff’s office estimates if that volume holds true for other bus companies across the county, “the number of violations each week would increase exponentially.”

The post adds a reminder that most school buses are equipped with cameras that help to capture license plate information of vehicles that commit violations.

Teen accused in fatal Green Bay crash wants case moved to juvenile court

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A 15-year-old girl charged in a fatal high-speed traffic crash in Green Bay has been ordered to stand trial in Brown County Court. Defense attorneys for Sienna Pecore are now asking that her case be moved to juvenile court before an arraignment is held.

Pecore is charged with first-degree reckless homicide, hit-and-run involving death and driving a vehicle without owner’s consent for the October 30 which killed a passenger, 17-year-old Cruz Beltron, Pecore was allegedly driving more than 100 mph at the time. According to the criminal complaint, she told police she had her mother’s car without permission.

In Wisconsin, defendants age 10 and older charged with certain homicide counts are prosecuted in adult court, such as in this case. Such requests are not automatically granted, and Pecore’s attorneys have the burden of proof for that motion.

Pecore’s attorneys were not ready to set a date for that hearing. A status conference will be held March 13.

Pecore’s attorneys had previously submitted a motion asking to have the charges dismissed, but Judge Zakowski dismissed that prior to Thursday’s  preliminary hearing.

WTAQ

Serious crime numbers down in Milwaukee

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Although homicides in Milwaukee were up by 11% in 2022, the city’s serious crime numbers were down last year. At a news conference Thursday, Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson and the city’s police chief, Jeffrey Norman, announced serious crime dropped by a combined 15% compared to 2021.

Addressing Milwaukee’s jump in homicides, Norman says more people are turning to guns for conflict resolution. Johnson says he wants to handle the homicide issue with stricter gun laws and by showing youth how to better resolve an issue.

No criminal liability in Milwaukee County Jail death

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The Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office has found “no basis for criminal liability” in connection to a June death at the county jail. Fox 6 Milwaukee reported that the determination announced Wednesday is connected to the suicide death of 21-year-old Brieon Green in a cell at the jail.

Green was arrested on charges including disorderly conduct and felony bail jumping. Green’s family and their attorney say video showed a correctional officer passing by Green’s cell while Green took his own life on June 26th, 2022. The Waukesha County Sheriff’s Department is investigating the case as well as the video, while the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office has opened their own internal investigation into the incident.