Chad Jorgensen, right, and his attorney, James Connell in court this morning. |
Jury expected to get murder plot case today Sept. 16, 2008 With deliberation expected to begin later today, a Langlade County jury will be forced to decide whether an Antigo man truly did plot to kill his ex-wife or if the allegations made against him were simply a jail house fabrication.
The trial involving 36-year old Chad A. Jorgensen entered its second day of testimony and at its completion, a ruling will be delivered if he is guilty or not guilty of solicitation of first degree intentional homicide.
The intended victim was his ex-wife Kelly Jorgensen and the allegations followed a bitter divorce. No injuries were ever sustained but the question if the threat was real has both sides sparring as District Attorney Ralph Uttke and defense attorney James Connell question a string of witnesses, including the Jorgensen couple themselves.
At the heart of the case is testimony provided by Ryan Becker, an Antigo man who met Jorgensen during a stay in the Langlade County Jail this spring. Taking the stand for several hours Monday and again this morning, Becker told of conversations with Jorgensen, including the latter’s ill feelings about his ex-wife, and statements that he wanted her dead.
“I jokingly agreed to do it,” Becker said, explaining that he initially believed the comments to be made in jest.
The conversations continued and according to Becker, the death plot appeared to grow more serious and the decision was made to notify law enforcement.
A criminal complaint drawn by Uttke traces the information Becker supplied investigators as well as taped conversations between the two.
“You know, I could get into trouble just probably talking about it, for like I’ve been joking about it for four years,” Jorgensen said. “Then I thought about it, for awhile, ya know, it would affect my son, but she is not nice, she’s mean and the way she’s bringing him up is not right.”
According to the complaint, Becker asked “So if I do her in, how much you give me?”
Jorgensen responded “I don’t know.”
The taped conversations continued and on the stand, Becker testified that he and Jorgensen had spoke of methods of how to commit the murder and ways to dispose of the body, including mention of a chainsaw or a wood chipper. And to ensure that he had the right target, Becker said Jorgensen would supply him with the proper clues.
“I got plenty of pictures and stuff, there’s no problem with that,” Jorgensen said. “I can give you the address, ya, no...there’s no problem with that.”
There was also talk of payment, but no money or other property ever exchanged hands.
Becker explained the conversations continued but in a discussion recorded on March 26, Jorgensen put a stop to the case.
“I’m calling it off though. It seems like the timing and everything is and, it’s going to come back to me. Bottom line it’s going to come back to me.”
During past proceedings, the prosecution has argued that the statement proved that there was an actual plan but according to the defense, Jorgensen never intended to follow through on the murder.
It is also the defense’s belief that Becker’s cooperation with police was only a game to earn him an early release from jail.
As the trial continued, jurors were told that Becker, a man with 16 criminal convictions, was allowed his freedom approximately two weeks early.
Prior to today’s testimony, Connell asked that the case be dismissed on the basis that the state’s evidence was “insufficient” but the motion was denied.
During cross-examination, Connell carefully questioned Becker on his prior testimony with much of the focus centering on a chainsaw which was given to Becker by Jorgensen.
According to Becker, the device was to be used for dismemberment but other witnesses, including fellow inmates and a local potato grower, pointed to a signed agreement involving the lease of the device from Jorgensen to Becker for tree-trimming work at a town of Antigo farm earlier this spring.
Matthew Hunt, one of the inmates who served time in jail with both men, said he heard Jorgensen complain about his ex-wife but nothing involving threats of death.
Another inmate, Matthew Sanford, and Kevin Zarda, a former employee of Jorgensen’s carpet cleaning business, said the opposite, stating that Jorgensen had made threats in the past, but both believed he wasn’t being serious.
Faced with the question of Becker’s honesty, several witnesses including a former employer, said they didn’t believe him to be a very truthful person.
At Journal presstime, Jorgensen was expected to take the stand himself.
Jury deliberation is expected to begin later this afternoon.
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