February 13, 2015 at 4:35 p.m.
Second person charged in cold case homicide
Second person charged in cold case homicide
By By River News staff-
"On Thursday, February 12, 2015, the Rhinelander Police Department arrested a second person for the homicide of Kenneth Wells," Rhinelander Police Chief Mike Steffes announced in a press release issued late Thursday evening.
According to a criminal complaint filed Friday afternoon, Shannon J. Wolf, 40, has been charged with first-degree intentional homicide (as party to the crime) for his alleged involvement in the death of Kenneth Wells. He made his initial appearance in Oneida County Circuit Court Friday afternoon at which time bond was set at $100,000 cash. His public defender attorney, Maggie Hogan, requested a preliminary hearing which was scheduled for March 6.
Wolf's former wife, Latoya Wolf, 33, of Tomahawk, is also facing charges related to Wells' death.
She was charged Jan. 19 with first-degree intentional homicide (as party to the crime) and resisting or obstructing an officer, in connection with Wells' death. A preliminary hearing in her case is set for March 3.
Wells' body was recovered from the Wisconsin River behind the Trig's Riverwalk Centre on July 1, 2003.
According to the criminal complaint filed against her, Latoya Wolf began giving investigators information concerning Wells' death in February 2012. Subsequent interviews were conducted as recently as March 2014. Her statements have been described as being very detailed and containing information that only someone who witnessed the death would be able to share.
According to the complaint, Latoya Wolf told police she witnessed an altercation between Wells and at least one man at the Elbo Room bar on the night of his death. She also told investigators that her party moved to the Longbranch Bar after the altercation. Sometime later that night, she said she saw a couple of men beat and kick Wells. She also admitted to helping to place a plastic bag over Wells' head and roll him into the river.
The initial autopsy conducted by an assistant medical examiner in the Fond du Lac County Medical Examiner's office revealed that Wells died of "probable freshwater drowning." The manner of death was ruled "undetermined."
In the courtroom Friday, Wolf's stepmother, Susan Wolf, defended him.
"I don't know what happened that night, I wasn't there, but in my heart I believe he didn't do it," she said. "Do I know that for a fact? No."
Shannon Wolf is currently serving a 12-year prison sentence at Stanley Correction Institution for stabbing a woman during an altercation on Sutliff Avenue in February 2012. According to Steffes, the Wells investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with information about the case is asked to call the department at (715) 365-5300.
The River News will have more information as it becomes available.
Comments:
You must login to comment.