July 1, 2022 at 4:49 p.m.
Wildcat enters not guilty plea in hit-and-run death case
Pretrial scheduled for Aug. 16
Wildcat enters not guilty plea in hit-and-run death case
By Trevor Greene-
The charge - which carries a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison and $100,000 fine - was filed after Wildcat was accused of fatally striking Alejandro Retana-Echeverria, 31, on U.S. Highway 51 in the early morning hours of June 16.
According to a criminal complaint filed June 20, Wildcat and Echeverria were seen to have consumed alcohol prior to the incident at a nearby bar, Heart II in Arbor Vitae.
Wildcat, said to be an employee of Heart II, arranged to give Echeverria a ride home but according to a coworker of Wildcat's who was bartending, Echeverria left on foot before the two were about to leave together.
After Wildcat left the bar to look for Echeverria, she later returned at approximately 12:46 a.m. to call 911, the complaint alleges. Echeverria, according to the complaint, was believed to have been struck by Wildcat at approximately 12:30 a.m.
During a June 29 preliminary hearing, district attorney Karl Hayes called on Vilas County detective sergeant Cody Remick to testify.
Remick, who said he has been working as a law enforcement officer for approximately eight years, wasn't present during the initial investigation but conducted interviews.
The officer testified that a sole call to 911 was made by Wildcat at 12:46 a.m. from Heart II, approximately three quarters of a mile south of the accident scene and roughly 15 minutes after the victim was believed to have been struck.
"Now, because the defendant was calling from a different location, is it true that law enforcement had to respond to, in effect, what was two scenes?" Hayes asked.
Remick confirmed that and explained that the victim, according to the responding deputy, appeared to have sustained a "severe chest injury, did not have a pulse and was not breathing, and was later announced deceased."
Answering questions from Hayes, Remick said the body was removed for autopsy but said he has not seen the report and doesn't know the exact cause of death.
"When speaking with the medical examiner, they had stated that the forensic pathologist believes he had been struck from behind," Remick said.
When Wildcat was taken into custody, once she was located at Heart II, her cellphone was obtained. Remick said six calls were made prior to the 911 call at 12:46 a.m. but also after 12:30 a.m.
All six of the calls, Hayes established, were made to Heart II, four to Wildcat's coworker and the other two to the bar's landline.
When Remick recalled what Wildcat told dispatch during her call to 911, he said she stated she decided to go home after not being able to locate Echeverria. As she turned around, then heading southbound on Hwy. 51, "the victim walked out in front of her car at the last second, waived their hands and was struck by her vehicle as a result."
According to Remick, Wildcat told dispatch she first attempted to make multiple calls to the coworker before returning to Heart II.
Wildcat was taken to a nearby medical center for blood testing, Remick said, adding that those results are pending.
Defense questions
Attorney Dan Snyder, with the Snyder Law Office in Park Falls, represented Wildcat during the preliminary hearing.
The interviews he conducted, Remick told Snyder, occurred later in the day of June 16 at the Vilas County Sheriff's Office.
Remick also told Snyder that after Wildcat returned to the bar, she and the co-worker traveled back to the scene of the incident, saw the body of the victim and returned to Heart II to make the 911 call.
Wildcat, Remick said, willingly gave her cellphone to investigators, willingly agreed to get her blood tested and willingly spoke with Remick in an interview later in the day, waiving her Miranda rights while doing so.
Remick said he had not personally visited the scene of the incident and according to him, one of the investigating officers first dispatched to the scene identified Echeverria by a "Mexico identification card."
When asked if he had any role in ordering the performance of the autopsy, Remick replied no. He also said he was unaware of any request made to have a toxicology screening done on the victim.
Snyder pointed out, though, a toxicology screening is standard procedure in cases of death. Remick agreed, saying "typically."
"And as far as the information you have about the deceased being struck from behind, this is what the medical examiner told you that the forensic pathologist told him?" Snyder asked.
After Remick confirmed that, Snyder described the information the investigating sergeant obtained as "third-hand."
Based on the testimony of Remick, Milanowski said she did find probable cause that Wildcat engaged in felony conduct, further moving the matter to a pretrial on Aug. 16.
Snyder responded by advising that his client wishes to plead not guilty to the sole count of hit-and-run involving death.
"The purpose of judicial pretrial is for the court to be updated on status of the case," Milanowski told Wildcat. "And before we come back to court, it's anticipated that the state and defense counsel will have conversations about the case and then I will be updated as to whether we're setting this matter for trial, for motions or for plea and sentencing."
Bond stays at $5,000
At Wildcat's initial court appearance on June 20, Snyder requested the $5,000 cash bond be modified, suggesting a lower amount be set.
At the time, Milanowski told Snyder if he wished to make such a request, a written motion must be filed, which he did complete.
After Milanowski reviewed the written motion, she decided to keep the cash bond set in place at $5,000, an amount Hayes believes is lenient.
"$5,000 cash bail is, to be blunt, low for a case in which an innocent person lost his life," he said. "This is a Class D felony. There is the potential for a lengthy and severe incarceration sentence."
From the initial appearance, Hayes said, the court is aware the defendant was suspected of being intoxicated, also indicating use of marijuana. He further suggested that though the defendant is facing a severe charge currently, an additional, if not more severe charge, or charges, could be forthcoming.
"We don't have those results back yet," Hayes said. "But when we're talking about operating while intoxicated causing a death, that gets into a whole different realm in terms of public safety concerns from hit-and-run resulting in death, which is the charged offense today."
Trevor Greene may be reached via email at [email protected].
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