Witzel Pleads No Contest To Iowa County Charges

Witzel Accused Of Killing Man, Injuring Victim's Brother

UPDATED: 1:54 pm CDT April 29, 2009

Dodgevill, Wis. -- A Loganville man accused of killing an Iowa County man and injuring the victim's brother during a shooting spree last fall pleaded no contest to first-degree homicide and first-degree attempted homicide on Wednesday.

Charles Witzel, 42, was accused of shooting four people in a pair of incidents within a week of each other last fall. The spree was allegedly prompted by a jealous rage over his ex-girlfriend.

Witzel was sentenced to life in prison in March for killing a man in Dane County in late October. Earlier this year, he pleaded no contest to the Oct. 31 slaying of Craig Severson, 45, and wounding Severson's fiancee in Cross Plains. Prosecutors said Witzel suspected that his ex-girlfriend had cheated with Severson.

However, Witzel's plea on Wednesday pertained to charges that he killed another man, Craig Finley, and injured his brother Casey during a shooting in Mineral Point -- days after the Cross Plains shooting -- on Nov. 6.

With this latest plea, Witzel now faces mandatory life in prison. His sentencing hearing in Iowa County is sent for June 26. Officials said that it will be determined at that court date if Witzel will be eligible for parole.

Before the killing spree began, police said Witzel was sending harassing text messages to his former girlfriend, Joan Haglund. Witzel had apparently learned of a romantic relationship between her and Craig Severson. Authorities allege Witzel entered Severson's apartment in Cross Plains on Halloween, shot and killed Severson and wounded his fiancée, Lisa Morgan.

A multi-day manhunt soon followed. Detectives followed Witzel's travels to Missouri and Arkansas and to the East Coast. Later, he returned to the home of Joan Haglund. Haglund wasn't staying at the home in rural Mineral Point because she felt unsafe. Haglund's current boyfriend, Casey Finley, was shot and injured. Witzel allegedly killed Finley's 37-year-old brother, Craig Finely.

Witzel fled again, but a massive manhunt ended hours later in a Wal-Mart parking lot in Dodgeville when Witzel was arrested.

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