Plea deal reached in Vilas County hit-and-run death case

A 25-year-old Lac du Flambeau woman has reached a plea agreement with the Vilas County district attorney’s office resolving a number of felony charges filed after she fatally struck a pedestrian on U.S. Highway 51 in June 2022.

According to court records, Laurie Wildcat pled guilty to one count of hit-and-run involving death during an appearance before Vilas County circuit judge Martha Milanowski Monday.

Wildcat was taken into custody by the Vilas County sheriff’s office after she allegedly hit 31-year-old Alejandro Retana-Echeverria with her vehicle in the early morning hours of June 16, 2022. 

According to the criminal complaint filed on June 20, 2022, Wildcat and the victim were together at a nearby bar in Arbor Vitae prior to the incident. Wildcat was said to have been employed by that bar.

The complaint said that Retana-Echeverria left on foot, and Wildcat subsequently left to find him in order to give him a ride home. 

Investigators said in the complaint they were told Wildcat had three alcoholic beverages before she left to look for Retana-Echeverria. 

After Wildcat — who said her vehicle collided with the victim by accident — returned to the bar, her and a coworker contacted law enforcement to report what had happened. 

Upon arrival, investigators said Wildcat’s vehicle emitted an odor of marijuana. 

Following the receipt of lab results, the criminal complaint in the case was amended on Nov. 3, 2022, to include the three felony charges of homicide by intoxicated use of vehicle, homicide by use of vehicle with a prohibited alcohol concentration and homicide by negligent operation of vehicle. 

However, according to court records, the plea deal reached between Wildcat and the state involved the state dismissing the three felony counts and Wildcat pleading guilty to the hit-and-run charge. 

Additionally, the plea deal includes Wildcat being charged separately with her first operating while intoxicated (OWI) offense.

Wildcat was expected to stand trial this week, but the plea deal negated the need for a jury.

After accepting the plea deal Judge Martha Milanowski ordered a pre-sentence investigation. 

Anticipating the pre-sentence investigation will take several weeks to complete, Milanowski scheduled the sentencing hearing in the case for Nov. 20 at 2 p.m. at the courthouse in Eagle River.

After the plea hearing, Wildcat, who was free on a $5,000 cash bond, was taken into custody.

A class D felony carries a maximum penalty of a fine not to exceed $100,000 or imprisonment not to exceed 25 years, or both.

Trevor Greene may be reached via email at [email protected].