March 9, 2015 at 5:06 p.m.
Second suspect in 2003 homicide bound over for trial
Second suspect in 2003 homicide bound over for trial
Shannon J. Wolf, charged in connection with the death of Kenneth "Punky" Wells, appeared before Branch II Judge Michael Bloom Friday morning for a preliminary hearing.
The only witness called was Detective Sergeant Joshua Chiamulera of the Rhinelander Police Department. Chiamulera testified he began investigating the case in January 2014 after he was promoted to detective.
Wells' body was recovered from the Wisconsin River behind the Trig's Riverwalk Centre on July 1, 2003. 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." Chiamulera said that determination did not lead investigators in 2003 to consider that the death might have been a homicide. He testified the investigation was suspended after about 30 days.
In February 2012, Detective Josh Pudlowski of the Rhinelander Police Department interviewed Wolf's ex-wife, Latoya, on an unrelated case and she offered information that implicated her then husband in Wells' death.
Chiamulera explained that because Shannon Wolf was being tried for a stabbing incident at that time, it was decided detectives would not immediately question him about the new information.
Shannon Wolf is currently serving a 12-year prison sentence at Stanley Correction Institution for that stabbing.
The investigation then stalled when Pudlowski left the department to become an arson investigator with the state Department of Criminal Investigation. Chiamulera said he decided to reopen the case when he was promoted to replace Pudlowski.
"I reinterviewed anyone and everyone I could find (including Latoya Wolf)," he testified.
Latoya Wolf was arrested Jan. 16 and charged with first-degree intentional homicide (as party to a crime) in connection with the death of Wells.
On Jan. 23, she reenacted the crime for investigators. A video of the reenactment was played at the preliminary hearing.
In the recording, Latoya Wolf is seen showing investigators how Shannon Wolf allegedly struck Wells in the back of the head with a softball-size rock under the Davenport Street bridge. She said Wells was lured under the bridge with the promise of smoking some marijuana with the couple.
According to Latoya, after Shannon struck Wells in the back of the head, he fell over into her lap. When she grabbed his head to push him back up, she got blood on the back of her hand. In the video she states that Shannon Wolf forced her to also strike Wells in a head with a rock, tie a large shopping bag over his head and a heavy string around his neck. She said she protested and Shannon Wolf repeatedly slapped her when she did not perform the acts to his satisfaction.
"You're going to do what I tell you or you'll end up like him," Latoya claims Shannon told her.
In the videos, she also claimed Shannon Wolf held his hand over the bag on Wells' face, covering the other man's mouth and nose. She said Wells, who was Latoya Wolf's godfather, struggled briefly but then was still. Shannon then jerked the rope from Wells' neck, leaving a mark, she said.
She also claimed Wells "was still moaning" when she was forced to help her husband place him in the river. Once he was in the water, she told a police detective she turned away and started to leave but Shannon told her to stay or she would be next.
"I heard splashing, but I didn't look back," she says on the video.
Well's body was discovered behind Trig's about 100-200 yards from where Wolf said he was placed in the water.
Under cross-examination by defense attorney Maggie Hogan, Chiamulera said Wells was identified based on information in his wallet. Dental records later confirmed his identity. Chiamulera said the wallet and the clothes Wells was wearing were not entered into evidence, probably due to the preliminary cause of death given after the autopsy. He also testified that he did not know if ligature marks were found on Wells' neck during the autopsy.
Hogan repeatedly tried to cast doubt on the reliability of Latoya Wolf's account. She forced Chiamulera to admit that Wolf was interviewed four different times and gave four different accounts of Wells' death.
"You have to admit that Latoya lied during the course of your investigation," Hogan asked.
"Yes," Chiamulera replied.
Schiek objected to three questions Hogan asked the detective, all related to whether Latoya Wolf is a reliable witness. Bloom sustained all of the objections, noting the rules of a preliminary hearing allow for the introduction of hearsay evidence that isn't admissible at trial.
Bloom ruled probable cause had been established that a felony had been committed by Wolf and bound him over for trial. An arraignment is scheduled for the afternoon of March 16.
Jamie Taylor may be reached at [email protected].
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