GUILTY WI - Berit Beck, 18, abducted & murdered, Fond du Lac, 17 July 1990

[JusticeWillBeServed]

Crime Watch Daily recently covered this case.

Mistrial Declared in Cold-Case Murder of Wisconsin Teen Berit Beck

Rarely do you see a court case in which jurors are brought to tears in anguish by the end decision. But that's exactly what happened in the murder case involving a young Wisconsin teen.

After two and a half days of deliberations, the jury sent a note to the judge: "We cannot agree on guilty or not guilty." And with that, a mistrial was declared. Reportedly, the jury was split 11 to convict, one to acquit.

Despite a mistrial, Brantner did not walk a free man. At the time of his arrest, cops found prescription pills hidden in his boot. He was eventually convicted of drug possession and sentenced to six years in prison and 11 years extended supervision, and seven years' probation.

Craig Hron, the first prime suspect, has been sentenced to 25 years for attempted murder first-degree murder in a knife attack on an ex-girlfriend.

The prosecution has decided to retry the case against Brantner.

"The questions aren't answered yet," said Diane Beck, Berit's mother. Berit's family holds out hope that one day justice will be served.

[video=youtube;Cq531r2BUAQ]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cq531r2BUAQ"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cq531r2BUAQ[/video]

 

[JusticeWillBeServed]

Dennis Brantner attorney argues state has insufficient evidence for retrial

http://www.nbc26.com/news/dennis-brantner-attorney-argues-state-has-insufficient-evidence-for-retrial

A judge will rule on January 23 if the state has sufficient evidence to proceed in retrying Dennis Brantner for the 1990 murder of Berit Beck.

http://wbay.com/2016/12/21/judge-to-decide-whether-state-can-retry-man-for-berit-beck-murder/

 

[JusticeWillBeServed]

Brantner To Be Re-Tried in 1990 Murder

http://wsau.com/news/articles/2017/jan/23/brantner-to-be-re-tried-in-1990-murder/

Dennis Brantner will be re-tried for the 1990 murder of Berit Beck, a judge ruled Monday.

Defense attorney Craig Powell removed himself from the case Monday. Another attorney will be assigned.

The next hearing will be a status conference Feb. 20. No trial date has been set.

 

[JusticeWillBeServed]

Man accused of killing Berit Beck to go on trial in February 2018

http://fox6now.com/2017/02/20/man-accused-of-killing-berit-beck-to-go-on-trial-in-february-2018/

A February 12, 2018 trial date has been set for Dennis Brantner’s second trial for allegedly killing Berit Beck.

At a hearing Monday, the four-week trial was set, as were pre-trial hearings on June 20, Oct. 24, Dec. 13, and Jan. 29, according to court records

 

[Shiressleuth]

Is there a pic of DB available? Oh just seen a side view up thread. Hmmm.

 

[Shiressleuth]

Is there a pic of DB available? Oh just seen a side view up thread. Hmmm.

Oh. And just saw the full front pic too. I guess they don't have DNA? Does the pic of Berit remind posters of anyone? Such a beautiful girl.
Is there a height, weight and eye colour of DB?

 

[JusticeWillBeServed]

Fond du Lac judge denies delay in Dennis Brantner murder trial

http://www.fdlreporter.com/story/news/2017/10/19/judge-denies-delay-dennis-brantner-murder-trial/779748001/

On Thursday, Fond du Lac Circuit Court Judge Robert Wirtz denied defense attorneys' requests to postpone the jury trial of Dennis Brantner until mid-July, due to the voluminous amount of evidence and files on the case.

Brantner's case will be discussed further at a hearing on Dec. 13.

The trial is set to come before Wirtz on Feb. 12.

 

[JusticeWillBeServed]

Dennis Brantner murder retrial still on for Feb. 12

http://www.fdlreporter.com/story/news/2017/12/15/dennis-brantner-murder-retrial-still-feb-12/934783001/

Dennis Brantner, who is accused of killing 18-year-old Berit Beck in 1990, appeared in court this week as attorneys prepared for his Feb. 12 retrial.

Prosecution and defense attorneys discussed potential questions for jurors during the hearing on Wednesday before Fond du Lac County Circuit Court Judge Robert Wirtz, according to public defender Jeff Haase, who has been assigned to defend Brantner.

Additional pretrial hearings are scheduled for Jan. 29 and Feb. 2.

 

[JerseyGirl]

Brantner, a 64-year-old Kenosha truck driver, is accused of murdering Beck in July 1990 while she traveled from her home in Sturtevant to a work seminar in Appleton. She stopped at Forest Mall in Fond du Lac, where her van was found and where investigators say she was abducted. Her decomposed body was found weeks later in a grassy ditch near rural Waupun.

Brantner was charged with first-degree murder 25 years after the slaying, based primarily on a fingerprint match that put Brantner inside Beck's van. He is currently an inmate at the Waupun Correctional Institution, serving a 6½-year sentence on drug charges that included attempting to smuggle drugs into the Fond du Lac County Jail.

http://www.postcrescent.com/story/n...ling-homicide-trials-keep-eye-2018/962980001/

 

[JusticeWillBeServed]

Brantner retrial to begin soon

http://www.great98.net/2018/01/29/1-29-18-brantner-retrial-to-begin-soon/

At a hearing Monday afternoon Fond du Lac judge Robert Wirtz agreed to allow testimony from Dennis Brantner’s ex girlfriend.

 

[JerseyGirl]

A man charged with murdering a woman nearly three decades ago will avoid a second trial. In front of a packed courtroom, a Fond du Lac County judge accepted Dennis Brantner's Alford plea in the 1990 slaying of Berit Beck.

Brantner agreed to plead guilty to a charge of 2nd Degree Reckless Homicide in exchange for a 10 year sentence. Brantner was set to stand trial Feb. 12 for the more serious charge of 1st Degree Murder.

A sentencing hearing is scheduled for March 1.

http://www.wbay.com/content/news/Br...for-1990-slaying-of-Berit-Beck-472348633.html

 

[JusticeWillBeServed]

Justice for Berit Beck: Brantner sentenced to 10 years behind bars

Dave Beck of Union Grove — Berit's father — broke down several times as he spoke to Judge Robert Wirtz. The last time he saw his daughter was as she loaded up the family van, eager to get on the road, she had assured him not to worry.

“All the people up north are good people,” Berit told her dad.

Diane Beck, Berit's mother, said she blames herself, as any loving mother would do, and wishes she had gone with Berit to Appleton the day she was taken.

After listening to the Beck family speak of the horrific pain they endured for decades, Wirtz sentenced the 64-year-old Brantner to the maximum 10 years. The retired truck driver was convicted Feb. 2 of second-degree reckless homicide after Wirtz accepted a plea deal, which reduced the charge from murder.

 

[JusticeWillBeServed]

April 2018:

Diane Beck pens birthday letter to murdered daughter

Diane Beck hopes for some peace of mind now that the man who ended her daughter's life almost 28 years ago is finally behind bars.

Justice for Berit Beck took decades. The teen was murdered by Dennis Brantner July 17, 1990, at a mid-way stop-off point in Fond du Lac while she was traveling north on a work-related road trip to Appleton.

In light of what would have been Berit's 46th birthday April 12, Diane penned a letter to celebrate her daughter's life, as well as take the opportunity to acknowledge everyone who supported the Beck family through the years.