Trial in 1976 murders probable next summer

MARINETTE — It will probably be almost a year after the arrest of a Lakewood man, charged with two 1976 murders in Marinette County, before his trial can be scheduled.

The slow course of justice provoked an outcry from a family member and a stern rebuke from the judge Friday.

Raymand L. Vannieuwenhoven, 82, was arrested March 14. Authorities said a test of his DNA matched evidence found on the body of Ellen Matheys, who was sexually assaulted and killed at the McClintock Park campground in July 1976. Her boyfriend, David Schuldes, was also shot and killed.

During a status conference in Marinette County Circuit Court, District Attorney DeShea Morrow told Judge James Morrison that volumes of evidence have been sent to the defense team with more to come, including investigative reports from the sheriff’s office that still need to be scanned in and information about DNA testing that the defense recently requested.

“It is quite voluminous, as the court I’m sure is aware, and so we’re diligently working on that. But we’ll need additional time to get everything to the defense,” Morrow said.

Saying he understands that “with an investigation that spans literally decades, there’s undoubtedly a lot of material,” Morrison asked Morrow how much more time she needs.

When she answered 60 to 90 days, the defendant’s grown daughter gave an audible groan and expletive, then muttered to a companion, “It’s been a year already.”

Morrison interrupted the proceedings to warn the woman.

“Ma’am, if there’s one more sound out of you, I’m going to exclude you from the courtroom,” the judge said. “This is a court, and you’re not going to be disrespectful. I understand that you’re under stress, like lots of other people in this room are, but you will be respectful to the participants, and most importantly to the court. Do you understand that?”

Appearing with lead defense attorney Travis Crowell via closed-circuit television from the county jail, Vannieuwenhoven did not visibly react to his daughter’s outburst and remained silent during the half-hour court hearing.

“I’m a little concerned about a 60- to 90-day time frame, but I do understand there’s a lot here,” Morrison told the attorneys. Defense attorney Lee Schuchart agreed that 90 days would be appropriate for scheduling the next status conference.

“Do we have any sense yet how long the trial will take?” the judge asked.

“Well, we’re talking weeks, not days,” Morrow said. Neither attorney was willing to actually schedule a block of time for the trial, but Morrow said they “had ballparked maybe in the summer of 2020” from the beginning.

Schuchart said the defense wasn’t ready to rush into the trial and suggested that scheduling of trial dates be delayed until after a motions hearing early in the new year.

“If you got the impression I was trying to rush you, you got the wrong impression. I’m not. But I’m looking at a man sitting in an orange suit who’s presumed to be innocent,” Morrison said.

The parties agreed to meet at 1 p.m. Jan. 7 for another status conference, and Morrison reserved Feb. 20 for a motion hearing with room on the schedule to take the entire day if necessary.

“It is my intention based on the motions that when they are concluded on the 20th, we will then actually schedule a trial date,” he said. “I’m trying to assemble a realistic schedule recognizing the seriousness of the case and the large amount of evidence that’s available, but keeping your feet to the fire at the same time.”

wbluhm@newmedia-wi.com