It has been months since Michael Ingold and his last attorney have parted ways, and the effort to get Ingold another attorney through the public defender’s office has been slow and not borne much fruit.
With that, the Shawano man accused of first-degree intentional homicide could be taking an unusual step — being his own attorney.
So far, almost 800 contacts have been made to find Ingold an attorney, Shawano-Menominee Circuit Court Judge William Kussel said during a March 24 status conference, but there has been no success. Kussel said the number of available attorneys has slowed down justice for many who cannot afford to hire their own counsel, but it is particularly difficult finding attorneys to take on homicide cases.
“It’s a somewhat complicated matter, so they’ve always got to make sure that they have an attorney who is able to take these kinds of cases,” Kussel said.
This is the third time an attorney has been sought for Ingold. Julianne Lennon took on the case for Christopher Froehlich, who withdrew May 9, 2023, after being appointed Oct. 18, 2022. Lennon withdrew from the case Nov. 21, 2024, after Ingold refused to come to court with her or appear via Zoom on the eve of the trial. Ingold has been in the Shawano County Jail since July 2022, held on a $1 million bond.
Ingold, 60, wrote a letter to Kussel asking to go pro se, meaning to be his own attorney. Kussel brought up the letter during the status conference.
“Is that something you want to do?” Kussel asked Ingold.
Ingold told the judge it was not a step he had planned to take.
“In all reality, no,” Ingold said in response to Kussel’s question. “However, it’s the only way I can get my discovery (evidence). Since my previous attorney had to back out, I’m not able to get in contact with her, and I can’t get discovery from her.”
Kussel provided Ingold with a form he would need to fill out if he decided to waive his right to having an attorney. The judge noted that Ingold could always reconsider and ask for an attorney again, but he urged the defendant to think long and hard about his decision, because of the specter of a life imprisonment sentence if Ingold is found guilty.
No decision was made on Ingold’s attorney status at the hearing, as Ingold opted to wait and think on the possibility. Another status conference was scheduled for 1:30 p.m. May 6 in Branch II of the Shawano County Courthouse. However, an earlier hearing could be scheduled if Ingold decides to move forward without an attorney.
The criminal complaint against Ingold states that at 4:13 a.m. June 25, 2022, the Shawano County Sheriff’s Department received a 911 call from Ingold, where he stated that he woke up and checked on his girlfriend, only to find her deceased.
An autopsy showed that Sheila Laudon, who was 59 at the time, was strangled to death.
Ingold told the deputies that he got home at 6:30 p.m. the day before, talked with the victim, turned on the television and fell asleep on the couch, according to the complaint. He stated he woke up around 2:30 a.m. and heard the victim in the kitchen saying that she was getting a beer. He then claimed that he woke up again at 4:01 a.m. and found her dead in the bedroom.
Detectives received the autopsy report of the victim’s death on July 21, 2022, stating that the cause of death was manual strangulation.
On July 27, 2022, two detectives interviewed Ingold at the sheriff’s department, told Ingold that the victim died from strangulation and that they believed that he caused it. Ingold allegedly responded, saying, “No, it’s not; no, it’s not. I didn’t touch her,” according to the complaint. Ingold acknowledged he and Laudon were the only two people in the house but continued to deny touching her, according to the complaint.
lpulaski@newmedia-wi.com
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