June 23, 2022 at 10:59 a.m.
Preliminary hearing set for Wildcat in hit-and-run death case
Criminal complaint filed Monday
Preliminary hearing set for Wildcat in hit-and-run death case
By Trevor Greene-
The charge brought against Wildcat is hit-and-run resulting in death, a Class D felony. If convicted, Wildcat could be sentenced to a maximum of 25 years in prison and pay a fine of up to $100,000.
During a June 17 bond hearing, Vilas County circuit court judge Martha Milanowski set bond at $5,000 cash. District attorney Karl Hayes sought a $10,000 cash bond while defense attorney Jodie Bednar suggested a high signature bond or, at most, a $1,000 cash bond.
Bednar represented Wildcat on behalf of Dan Snyder of Snyder Law Office in Park Falls.
While the criminal complaint was yet to be filed at the time of the bond hearing, conflicting statements made by Bednar and Hayes were shared; most notably that according to Bednar, Wildcat attempted to "slam on her breaks," though Hayes said the state's evidence indicates Wildcat accelerated at the moment the victim was struck.
Wildcat was back in court on Monday, via Zoom, at which time the criminal complaint was filed.
"Laurie, in this criminal complaint, it is alleged that ... you were operating a motor vehicle on the highway, that you struck an individual on the highway," Snyder said. "As a result of being struck, that person is deceased and that you left the scene of that accident. That's called hit and run resulting in death; that's the name of the charge."
According to the complaint, Wildcat "failed to reasonably investigate what was struck ... and failed to stop the vehicle she was operating as close to the scene of the accident as possible and remain at the scene of the accident."
Also included in the complaint is the account of the Vilas County sheriff's deputy who was dispatched to the scene for initial investigation. Wildcat was noted to have called 911 at 12:46 a.m. to report what had happened.
When the deputy first arrived at approximately 12:52 a.m., he included in the complaint narrative there was already a Minocqua police officer present.
"Visibility was fair, traffic was light, and no fresh skid marks were observed in the roadway," the complaint states. "Investigating officers located the body ... on the shoulder to the west of the southbound lane."
According to the complaint, the autopsy revealed the cause of death was blunt force trauma consistent with a collision between a vehicle and pedestrian.
When the deputy found Wildcat at a nearby bar, the suspected vehicle was noted to be emitting an odor of marijuana and had sustained damage to the front with both airbags deployed.
According to the complaint, the deputy said Wildcat was behind the bar with a coworker, and when questioning Wildcat, he noted her pupils were dilated.
The complaint states that the coworker said that Wildcat's shift at the bar ended at 8 p.m. After leaving, she returned at 10 p.m. and "drank three cocktails." The coworker then told the deputy the victim arrived at approximately 11:30 p.m. and consumed "a beer and shots of liquor" before asking Wildcat for a ride home.
"However, when it was time to go home, (the victim) left the bar on foot," the complaint states. "The defendant left to look for him. At some point between 12:30 a.m. and 12:45 a.m. the defendant called (her coworker) and stated that she had struck a person and did not know what to do. The defendant then left the scene of the accident, returned to the bar on Hwy. 70, and called 911."
The ownership of the bar (Heart II) wishes to clarify that Mr. Retana-Echeverria was never employed by the bar and that the bar's land-
line was not used to call 911, contrary to statements made at last week's bail hearing.
The investigating officers were able to identify a second witness, according to the complaint, who said they were driving back from Manitowish Waters to Rhinelander when they came across Wildcat in the SUV parked on the side of the road.
After noticing the blinking hazards of the vehicle, the witness parked behind the SUV and "could see that the airbags had deployed in the vehicle."
"(The witness) stated that (Wildcat) exited the stopped vehicle and stumbled toward (the witness's) vehicle," the complaint states. "(Wildcat) told (the witness) that she had struck a deer and had called friends for help. (The witness) stated that the female subject appeared to be either in shock or highly intoxicated."
The complaint states that once Wildcat declined the help of the witness, they continued to drive southbound, also noticing the damage on the front-end of the vehicle.
One last piece of information included in the complaint is a preliminary analysis of Wildcat's cellphone. It reveals the phone was used to make six calls after 12:30 a.m. when the victim was believed to have been struck, and prior to Wildcat's 911 call at 12:46 a.m.
"All six of the calls had been to the bar's landline or to (the coworker's) personal cellphone," the complaint states. "The first call was made at 12:31 a.m. The sixth call was made at 12:35 a.m. Thus your complainant believes that the defendant struck the victim at approximately 12:30 a.m. on (June 16), and left the scene of the accident at approximately 12:36 a.m."
Wildcat is scheduled to be back in court for a preliminary hearing at 1:45 p.m. Wednesday, June 29. At the preliminary hearing, the state must show probable cause that a felony was committed and the defendant committed it.
Trevor Greene may be reached via email at [email protected].
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