April 24, 2015 at 5:46 p.m.
Teen murder suspect makes first local court appearance
Martinson held on $750K bond
Teen murder suspect makes first local court appearance
Ashlee A. Martinson, 17, appeared via video from the Oneida County Jail before Branch II Judge Michael Bloom. She was advised that she has been charged with two counts of first-degree intentional homicide and three counts of false imprisonment. If convicted, she could be sentenced to life in prison.
Martinson was represented by Thomas Wilmouth and Amy Lynn Ferguson, both of whom were appointed by the state public defender's office. Wilmouth appeared from the jail with Martinson. Ferguson was in the courtroom.
Because Ferguson is with the law firm of O'Melia, Schiek and McEldowney where his brother practices law, Branch I Judge Patrick O'Melia recused himself from the case early Friday morning. The case was then assigned to Bloom.
Citing the seriousness of the charges, the potential penalties and the fact that she was apprehended in Indiana the day after the crimes were allegedly committed, Oneida County District Attorney Michael Schiek asked Bloom to set a high
cash bond for Martinson.
"We have two counts of first-degree homicide and three counts of false imprisonment, with the potential penalty on count one and count two is life imprisonment," Schiek said. "On counts three through five, these are class H felonies with Imprisonment of up to six years. Another factor the court has to take into consideration is whether the acts were violent in nature. The supplemental report that was attached to the amended criminal complaint indicates that the victims died as a result of gunshot wounds as well as stabbings, so we have, from the state's standpoint, a very violent nature of the offense."
According to the amended criminal complaint, Martinson allegedly shot Thomas Ayers, her stepfather, then stabbed Jennifer Ayers, and locked her three younger sisters in a room with food in their town of Piehl home on March 7. She was arrested the next day in Boone County, Indiana traveling south on an interstate just north of Indianapolis with her boyfriend, 22-year-old Ryan Sisco of Tomahawk, who is not a suspect in the murders.
According to the complaint, one of Martinson's younger sisters told police Martinson and their parents argued the day of the murders over her dating Sisco. The complaint indicates the parents were concerned about the age difference between Martinson and Sisco. According to the complaint, the younger sister saw Thomas Ayers go up to Martinson's room and heard him "pound" on a door just before shots rang out. Jennifer Ayers was stabbed to death after she also went to the upstairs area, according to the complaint.
Defense attorney Wilmouth took "no position on bond" when asked for his recommendation.
Due to the severity of the charges, Bloom said he agreed with Schiek's recommendation and set a $750,000 cash bond.
"The evidence is relatively clear cut, although we have not yet had a preliminary hearing or bind over in the case," Bloom said.
Because the crimes are felonies, Martinson' attorneys asked that a preliminary hearing be held. The purpose of a preliminary hearing is to force the state to present evidence that shows there is probable cause to believe that a particular defendant committed the crimes for which they stand accused. Wilmouth waived the statutory time limits for holding the preliminary hearing. Bloom scheduled the hearing for June 5.
Martinson had initially declined to waive extradition, triggering a formal legal process in which Gov. Scott Walker had to request her return from Indiana Gov. Mike Pence. But April 9, at a hearing lasting approximately 15 minutes, she chose to voluntarily return to Wisconsin. Oneida County then had 30 days to have her transferred back to Wisconsin.
The Oneida County Sheriff's office announced Thursday evening Martinson had been returned to Rhinelander.
Sisco waived extradition and was returned to Lincoln County, where he was being held on a probation violation. He has since been transferred to the Oneida County Jail.
According to Terri Hook, sheriff's captain, Martinson is being treated no differently than any other prisoner in the jail. Hook said all prisoners are kept by themselves for a short period of time while their potential risk and threat level is assessed. Eventually, Martinson could be placed in general population, she said.
"She is being treated no differently from any other prisoner," Hook said. "We have housed 17-year-olds before."
Jamie Taylor may be reached at jtaylor@ lakelandtimes.com.
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