GUILTY WI - Stephanie Low, 22, Wausau, 10 Oct 2010

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http://www.thecitypages.com/news-opinion/trial-dates-set-for-accused-killer/

The trial for the man accused of killing a Wausau woman and burying her body in a Wabeno-area forest has been moved to March 13, 2017, after two new attorneys were appointed to represent him.

Kristopher Torgerson, 36, faces charges of first-degree intentional homicide, attempted armed robbery and hiding a corpse in connection with the death of 22-year-old Stephanie Low.

Torgerson had been scheduled to go to trial in July, but that was postponed to give his attorneys time to prepare.
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Years later, trial to begin in Stephanie Low slaying

http://www.wausaudailyherald.com/story/news/2017/03/09/years-later-trial-begin-stephanie-low-slaying/98844680/

The trial for a man accused of killing a 22-year-old Wausau woman and leading police to her buried body almost four years later is expected to begin next week.

Kristopher Torgerson, 37, was charged in September 2014 with first-degree intentional homicide, armed robbery and hiding a corpse in connection with the death of Stephanie Low. Torgerson was charged shortly after he took police to the place where Low’s body was buried in a wooded area of Forest County.

The trial is scheduled to begin Monday. The jury will be selected at a courthouse in another county, but the remainder of the trial will take place in Marathon County Circuit Court in Wausau. The trial is expected to last more than two weeks. Marathon County Judge Gregory Huber is set to preside over the trial.
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Stephanie Low's friends testify in homicide trial

http://www.wausaudailyherald.com/story/news/crime/2017/03/14/trial-starts-stephanie-low-homicide-case/99158430/

Thomas Wilmouth, Torgerson's attorney, during his opening statement methodically described many of the witnesses expected to testify during the trial and repeatedly told jurors to focus their attention on the physical evidence in the case, which he claimed wouldn't link Torgerson to Low's killing.

"Physical evidence does not lie," he said.

Wilmouth admitted Torgerson was involved in burying Low's body and even urged the jury to find him guilty of that crime, but also urged the jury to look at all the evidence in the case, which he described as a "tragic case with a cast of failed individuals," before reaching a conclusion. He also described Low as a woman wrapped up in a dangerous world of drug trafficking, which he said gave police "a wealth of suspects" who could be responsible for her death.

Devra Ayala, a prosecutor in the case, told the jury during her opening statement to pay attention during the trial to all of the times Torgerson told other people about his involvement in the case and his knowledge of the location of Low's body.

"I would ask you not to forget who this case is really about," she said, standing next to a portrait of Low placed on a stand.
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Ellysa Clendenning, was the first person to testify during the trial for Kristopher Torgerson. Clendenning told the jury she planned to get her nails done with her best friend on Oct. 10, 2010, but couldn't reach Low on the phone that morning. She went to Low's apartment with a few other people around 5 p.m. to check on her. They found Low's two dogs acting frightened and what appeared to be a bloodstain on a mattress in the bedroom.

Clark Prosser, a friend of Low's mother, also went to check on Low at her apartment the day she went missing. He said there was a strong smell of bleach in Low's room and a blood stain near her bed.

Trinton Phillips, Low's friend for more than three years, testified about the weekend Low went missing. He recalled visiting with Low and a few other friends at a local bar before briefly heading to Low's apartment to smoke marijuana. Phillips was shown photos of Low's apartment taken after she went missing and pointed out a few differences, including missing bedding apparently removed from the mattress and a large stain on the floor.
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Day 2 of Torgerson Trial: Low's mom testifies, Low's final voice mail played in court

http://www.wsaw.com/content/news/Day-2-of-Torgerson-Trial-Friend-describe-apartment-following-Lows-disapperacne-416228863.html

Wednesday, Stephanie Low's friend, Shelley Resch was the first to testify. Resch said she knew Low sold cocaine and had just gotten drugs before her disappearance.

Resch was one of three people to go to Stephanie's apartment on 3rd Avenue to check on her when she could not be reached by phone.

She described the apartment the same way others that have testified before her had. She said the apartment smelled like bleach. She also told the court a bloody footprint was next to the bed. A scene photography was later shown to jurors.
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Wednesday, jurors also heard a voice mail Stephanie Low left Kelley Willbourn at 12:58 a.m., Oct. 10. That was the last call she ever made, investigators said. “Call me. It's *advertiser censored***** important,” Low said in the voice mail.

Det. Buckner said he learned there were six phone calls before the final voicemail between Low and Willbourn.
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Mother recalls speaking to Stephanie Low for last time

http://www.wausaudailyherald.com/story/news/2017/03/15/stephanie-lows-friend-says-she-saw-bloody-footprint/99206076/

Claudia Blake broke down in tears on the witness stand Wednesday morning as a prosecutor showed her the knife recovered with her daughter’s body.

Blake was testifying during the trial of Kristopher Torgerson, 37, who is accused of killing and burying her daughter, 22-year-old Stephanie Low, in late 2010. Blake described her daughter as “very strong willed,” and kind.

“If you were in her life, you were in it for good,” she said.

Blake talked about the last time she saw her daughter in person, which was when they went out to dinner Sept. 25, 2010, a few days before Low’s birthday. Blake spoke to her daughter for the last time by phone Oct. 8, 2010, only days before she went missing.
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The trial is being streamed on a few sites. Here's one of them:

http://lawnewz.com/live-dalia-dippolito-murder-for-hire-retrial/watch-live-kristopher-torgerson-murder-trial/
 
Day 3 of Torgerson Trial: Jury hears DNA evidence

http://www.waow.com/story/34930800/2017/03/Thursday/day-3-of-torgerson-trial-stephanie-lows-boyfriend-takes-the-stand

Thursday morning, her boyfriend at the time, Eric Maholmes testified to details of the apartment the two lived in together. Maholmes was in jail at the time of her disappearance.

Maholmes admitted to a jury that him and Low sold drugs. When Low vanished, investigators found drugs inside a safe in Low's apartment, however Maholmes said in questioning he didn't know where those drugs came from.

The jury also heard DNA evidence from a forensic pathologist with the Wisconsin State Crime Lab. Catherine Kohl said various pieces of evidence throughout Low's apartment were swabbed looking for DNA profiles.

They had a DNA profile from Torgerson that they would use to see if it was a possible match to any evidence. One piece of evidence was a mop inside the bathroom that witnesses said was in a bucket of cleaning solution.
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Torgerson Trial: Witnesses Claim Torgerson Confessed

http://wsau.com/news/articles/2017/mar/17/torgerson-trial-witnesses-claim-torgerson-confessed/

Several witnesses testified on Friday that Kristopher Torgerson privately confessed to killing Stephanie Low.

Doug Koplitz said he knew Kristopher Torgerson from a jail work release program in 2011, and Torgerson twice told him that he killed the 22-year-old Low in October 2010. In one admission, Koplitz was under the influence of drugs and alcohol, he said.

"He had told me that he killed Stephanie Low and then he asked me if I would go and help him remove the body and put her somewhere else," said Koplitz.
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Day 6 of Torgerson Trial: Friend tells court he helped move Low's body

http://www.wsaw.com/content/news/Day-4-of-Torgerson-Trial-Prosecution-416519503.html

Monday continue with testimony from Torgerson's girlfriend, Andrea Wadinski. Kristopher Torgerson is charged with the disappearance and death of Stephanie Low.

Wadinski said she was involved with hiding the corpse of Stephanie Low.

She said she led Torgerson and Richard Hawkins up north to Wabeno to eventually bury Low’s body.

For the next two years, law enforcement would question her and she said would lie.

“I knew I would tell the truth when I knew he was put away for good and wouldn’t hurt me or my family,” she explained.

She said she also tried changing her phone number to avoid being questioned by law enforcement. Investigators said she likely lied, because she had too much to lose.

But in February 2013, Wadinski said she finally cracked and started telling the truth, despite being scared for her life.
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Monday, Richard Hawkins-- Torgerson's longtime friend from Alabama was also called to testify.

He said he was here just staying with Torgerson at the time, but little did he know he’d be a part of something much more serious, prosecutors alleged.
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http://www.wausaudailyherald.com/story/news/2017/03/20/ex-torgerson-said-he-did-something-bad-stephanie-low/99300786/

Hawkins said upon finishing burying Low's body, Torgerson said not to tell anyone. Hawkins had traveled to Wausau from Alabama with Torgerson and Wadinski prior to Low's death, and Torgerson threatened him by saying no one knew he was in Wisconsin with them. Hawkins said he and Torgerson had known each other since about 2004.

During his testimony, Hawkins also shared details of how he helped Torgerson to move Low's body out of her apartment, into his Jeep.

Hawkins took the stand Monday afternoon, and testified to his involvement in burying Low's body. He said he was sleeping in Torgerson's apartment the night of the murder. Torgerson woke him up and insisted he needed help with something. The two men went to Low's apartment, where Torgerson showed Hawkins to the bedroom.

"When I walked in, I noticed (Low) laying across the bed," Hawkins said. He said that Low was covered mostly in a blanket, but he was able to see blood on her neck and the blanket. That's when he realized, from his position in the bedroom doorway, that Low was dead.

"I asked Kris 'What did you do? What did you do to her?'" Hawkins testified. "He replied, 'She didn't give me what I wanted.'"

Torgerson then told Hawkins that he "was in it now" and that he had to help move Low's body.
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Day 7: Pathologist, Detectives testify about condition of body

http://www.wsaw.com/content/news/Day-7-Friend-questioned-about-role-in-moving-Lows-body-416722383.html

Michael Steer, a forensic pathologist testified Tuesday.

Low's official cause of death? “Homicide by unspecified means”, Steer testified.

Despite multiple testimonies and reports of a stabbing, Steer said there’s no physical evidence of wounds on her body. Doctor Steer performed the autopsy on Stephanie Low’s moderately decomposed body after it was recovered in September 2014. He said Low's death is suspicious because her body was buried in a grave and the fact that there was a knife blade found with her.

“That’s not common to find a broken knife in a body,” he said.

He also shared there was no physical evidence of stab wounds anywhere on her neck or chest. Despite reports and multiple testimonies suggested otherwise.
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Wausau Police Detective Jennifer Holz was also called to testify. She shared detail about the discovery of Low's body in a shallow grave in Wabeno.

She also said despite the amount of time Low had likely been in the grave, her body was in better condition than expected. She shared the like soil's high clay-content allowed detectives to identify tattoos on Low's body.
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Torgerson Trial: Prosecution Rests Case

http://wsau.com/news/articles/2017/mar/22/torgerson-trial-prosecution-rests-case/

Wausau Police Lt. William Kolb was the last witness prosecutors called, testifying he interviewed Torgerson several times from 2011 through 2014. The jury then heard some of the recorded interviews, including one from September 2014 when Torgerson says, "I'll take you to her body." He would lead authorities to the body in the Nicolet National Forest shortly afterwards.
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Torgerson won't testify at trial in Low case

http://www.wausaudailyherald.com/story/news/local/2017/03/23/torgerson-gives-defense-stephanie-low-case/99533580/

The jury won’t hear any testimony from Kristopher Torgerson before deciding whether he killed a 22-year-old Wausau woman before leading police to her buried body almost four years later. Attorneys in the case are set to give closing arguments Friday morning, with jury deliberations scheduled to begin Friday afternoon.

The trial continued Thursday morning with witnesses called by Torgerson’s defense attorney, Thomas Wilmouth, as prosecutors had concluded testimony from their own witnesses Wednesday afternoon.

Clifford Hayes, a Wausau resident, testified that he sold crack cocaine to Torgerson in the past, including around the time Low went missing. Hayes corroborated phone records that showed Torgerson called Hayes nine times between 3:32 a.m. and 3:51 a.m. Oct. 10, 2010, which is the same day Low was reported missing.
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Jury starts deliberating Stephanie Low case

http://www.wausaudailyherald.com/story/news/2017/03/24/prosecutor-give-stephanie-low-justice/99574930/

Richard Dufour, a prosecutor on the case, told the jury all of the evidence shows Torgerson killed Low in the early morning of Oct. 10, 2010. In his closing arguments, Dufour said six different witnesses, including Torgerson's then-girlfriend and ex-wife, testified that Torgerson admitted to killing Low. There is also physical evidence that corroborates the witnesses' version of events, Dufour said.

"After 6 1/2 years, it's finally time to give Stephanie Low some degree of justice," he said.

Dufour said while many of the witnesses lied to investigators initially, they had a reasonable fear Torgerson would hurt them for telling the truth to police. Dufour also pointed out about a dozen lies Torgerson told police.

Thomas Wilmouth, Torgerson's attorney, hammered at the credibility of many of the prosecution's witnesses during his closing argument and claimed the physical evidence simply didn't add up in the case.

"Things have to make sense," Wilmouth said. "That's what proof beyond a reasonable doubt is."
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Jury finds Kristopher Torgerson guilty of first degree intentional homicide

http://www.wsaw.com/content/news/BREAKING-Jury-finds-Kristopher-Torgerson-guilty-of-first-degree-intentional-homicide-417067443.html

An out of county jury of nine men and six women found Kristopher Torgerson, 37, guilty of first degree intentional homicide in the death and disappearance of Stephanie Low.

Torgerson was found not guilty of armed robbery and guilty of hiding a corpse.

George Low, Low's father, said he's pleased with the verdict, but closure isn't something he'll ever get.

"My daughter will never come home," Low said. "It's part of the whole thing... I'll never have closure for her. She's never going to come home."

Low said the trial brought back emotions he hadn't felt for nearly seven years.

"Let me tell you, the emotions I've felt in the last week ...I haven't felt since the week she disappeared," Low said.
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Stephanie Low's mother, Claudia Blake, released a statement from the family to NewsChannel 7 about the verdict.

"We would like to thank Lt. Bill Kolb, Detective Jennifer Holz, Detective Cord Buckner, Kristen Spiegel Berg, and the entire Wausau police department. We would like to Thank Pam Steffen-Karis, Jamie Alberti and the Marathon County DA's office. We would also like to Thank Asst Attorney General Dick Dufour, and Asst. Attorney General Devra Ayala and the Department of Justice. Thank you all for your ongoing love and support the past six and [a] half years. We finally have Justice for Stephanie. The family would like to ask for privacy at this time."
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[video=youtube;1M_KfB6QEuI]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1M_KfB6QEuI"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1M_KfB6QEuI[/video]

Torgerson faces a mandatory life sentence. Only parole eligibility will be discussed at his sentencing hearing. The date for the hearing will be scheduled next week.
 
Kristopher Torgerson to be sentenced in June

http://www.wausaudailyherald.com/story/news/2017/03/30/kristopher-torgerson-sentenced-june/99831298/

The man recently convicted of killing and burying a 22-year-old Wausau woman will be sentenced June 8.

Kristopher Torgerson, 37, was found guilty of first-degree intentional homicide and hiding a corpse March 24 at the conclusion of a trial that lasted for about two weeks. A jury took about six hours before deciding he was responsible for the death and disappearance of Stephanie Low, who died in October 2010 and was missing until Torgerson led police to her body, buried in a wooded area of Forest County, about four years later.

Torgerson is facing a mandatory life sentence for the homicide charge, but a judge still has to determine when he will be eligible to be released from prison under supervision. Torgerson also faces up to 10 years in prison for hiding a corpse, plus another six years on that charge because he was charged as a repeater.
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Parole denied for Kristopher Torgerson, gets life sentence in Low's death

The judge has ruled Kristopher Torgerson will not be eligible for parole citing a prior criminal record including the death of his father-- which Torgerson served time in Alabama.

"You have learned nothing", said Marathon County Judge Greg Huber during Torgerson two-hour long sentencing hearing.

Low's family, understandably emotional, clapped when hearing the news.
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Stephanie Low's family sees daughter's killer sentenced to life in prison

Claudia Blake, Low’s mother, called Torgerson an “evil monster” in her statement to the court on Thursday, then asked Torgerson not to speak before he was sentenced. She talked about how her life has become largely about her daughter’s death.

“It wasn’t about me. It never was,” she said. “It’s always been about her.”

Christie Low, Stephanie's grandmother, said Torgerson has "destroyed everybody," but thanked him for leading investigators to her body.

"You are going to live with what you did for the rest of your life," Christie Low said. "I pray to God he has mercy on you."
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