HUDSON, Wis. – On June 13, 2019, Kayle A. Fleischauer was found by guilty by a jury of second-degree reckless homicide for the killing of his son, Chase A. Fleischauer. The trial was presided over by St. Croix County Judge Scott Needham.

“Thank you to those investigators and prosecutors whose work resulted in a guilty verdict in this case,” said Attorney General Josh Kaul. “This verdict would not have been possible without critical analysis by the Division of Forensic Sciences.”

The evidence presented at trial established that on April 14, 2018, Kayle Fleischauer killed Chase Fleischauer. Chase died of a gunshot wound to the head. The prosecution presented extensive evidence of the beating to which Chase was subjected by the defendant, his father, before Chase was shot, and of the defendant’s defiant and obstructive conduct towards the police investigating at his house immediately after the shooting, demonstrating that he was the murderer.

The conviction was obtained because of an investigation conducted by the St. Croix County Sheriff’s Office, New Richmond Police Department, Ramsey County Medical Examiner, and Wisconsin State Patrol. New Richmond Emergency Medical Services also assisted.

DNA, firearms, and fingerprint evidence was analyzed by the Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) Division of Forensic Science, with assistance from the Wisconsin State Crime Laboratory crime scene response team.

The prosecution of this case has been handled by Assistant Attorney General Bob Kaiser of the DOJ Division of Legal Services Criminal Litigation Unit and St. Croix County Assistant District Attorney Erica Ellenwood.

A sentencing hearing is scheduled for August 30, 2019 at 1:00 p.m. Second-degree reckless homicide carries a penalty of up to 25 years or $100,000 fine or both.