Cops: Teen killed for the challenge

Chicago Tribune on-line ^ | February 26, 2004 | Carrie Antlfinger, AP

[NotJustAnotherPrettyFace]

WEYAUWEGA, Wis. -- Gary Hirte, a high school scholar, star athlete and Eagle Scout whose name seemed to be in the local paper all the time, is accused of committing murder--not for money or revenge, but just to see if he could get away with it.

The Weyauwega-Fremont High senior's arrest last month was met with shock and disbelief in this town of 1,800, where Hirte has long been held in high esteem. The 18-year-old was accused of killing 37-year-old Glenn Kopitske.

"He wanted to see if he could do this. It was like a challenge for him," sheriff's Capt. Steve Verwiel said. "I would attribute it to arrogance."

Defense attorney Gerald Boyle said Hirte claims he was not involved in the murder. Boyle said Hirte will plead not guilty at his arraignment Thursday.

Authorities said Hirte told friends about the crime, but none took him seriously. Finally, five months after the slaying, a girl he once dated went to police because she feared he would commit suicide out of remorse.

Hirte apparently sought out and stalked Kopitske, a substitute teacher who ran unsuccessfully for state Assembly in 2000, authorities said.

Kopitske was found dead Aug. 2 in his house outside Weyauwega. He had been shot in the head, stabbed twice in the back and once in the heart.

The arrest has shaken this community about 90 miles north of Madison.

Hirte was the city's first Eagle Scout in 20 years. He was an honor student and a 6-foot-4, 270-pound member of the track, wrestling and football teams, and has a steady 14-year-old girlfriend. Readers of the town's weekly paper knew all about his achievements.

[laconic]

That's a good point; never thought of it that way. Like the 3 prisoners who left Alcatraz in the middle of the night and "drowned" in SF Bay although no bodies were found. Is it true "no one ever escaped from Alcatraz"?

[antiRepublicrat]

decided to murder Bobby Franks to see if they could commit the perfect crime. No such thing.

"Any time you try a decent crime, you got 50 ways you can f*** up. You think of 25 of them and you're a genius. And you ain't no genius." -- Mickey Rourke from Body Heat

[the_devils_advocate_666]

He said law enforcement is seeing a staggering amount of teens murdering "just because they want to see what it's like to see someone die."

Maybe they've been listening to a little too much Johnny Cash? (Something about a man in Reno...)

[riverrunner]

The only mistake he made was telling people about it if one can keep their mouth shut.

[jocon307]

That's pretty tremendous. 16 yrs old maybe, not 14, her parents must be nuts. Now the golden boy is accused of murder, nice boyfriend that.

[NotJustAnotherPrettyFace]

I have two daughters. My oldest is now beyond 14 but if she'd come home with an 18 yr. old, I'd have shown him the door..... even if he was an Eagle Scout.