Posted on 11/24/2004 7:45:29 AM PST by whodeani
Homicide connection explored Sunday's shooting has similarities to a 2001 killing 80 miles away
By JOHN DIEDRICH jdiedrich@journalsentinel.com Posted: Nov. 23, 2004
Law enforcement agencies are investigating if the man suspected of killing six deer hunters and injuring two others was involved in the unsolved slaying of a deer hunter three years ago in a nearby Wisconsin county, a detective said Tuesday.
Clark County Sheriff's Department Detective Kerry Kirn said he has exchanged frequent calls with investigators in Sawyer County since Monday morning.
"I can tell you we have been in contact with authorities from Sawyer County to address that," Kirn said. "It is premature to speculate if there is a connection."
On Nov. 23, 2001, Jim Southworth was shot to death as he hunted on family land 10 miles east of Neillsville in one of the only other homicides ever to be linked to Wisconsin's deer hunting season.
Southworth was shot twice in the back and both bullets exited his chest, an autopsy found.
Witnesses reported a pickup truck with three men inside on a road near where Southworth's body was found, about 80 miles south of Sunday's shooting.
The three men were described as Asian from 5-foot-4-inches to 6-feet. They were driving a silver or gray Nissan or Chevrolet pickup truck, possibly a late 1980s model with a light-colored fiberglass topper.
Chai Soua Vang, 36, of St. Paul, Minn., who is suspected of shooting eight hunters Sunday, is 5-foot-4-inches, according to a court document. Vang has owned a 1987 Nissan pickup, according to an online search service. According to court records, Vang allegedly shot several of Sunday's victims in the back.
The Sawyer County rampage was allegedly sparked by a dispute over Vang using a deer stand on private property. One of the theories Clark County authorities have been pursuing is that Southworth was shot after confronting a trespasser.
Officials said that Vang was hunting with two other people on Sunday, before he became lost and wandered onto the private property. Police are looking for those other people.
Vang did have an out-of-state license to hunt in Wisconsin in 2001, said Mike Bartz, a Department of Natural Resources warden manager. He also had a license in 2000, 2002 and this year, he said.
Kirn called the three people being sought in Southworth's murder "persons of interest."
"To our knowledge, those are the only three people who we haven't identified who were in that area that day," Kirn said.
Kirn said he could not comment on whether Vang has been or will be questioned in the Southworth case. Investigators from the state Department of Justice are investigating both cases, he said.
"They need to do their investigation and when all facts come out, and they will relay that to me, and we'll make the comparison," Kirn said.
The Sawyer County Sheriff's Department, the first to respond to Sunday's shooting, referred questions to the Department of Justice. A spokesman there declined to comment on whether a connection was being investigated between the two cases.
Told of the two cases, a retired FBI agent said his experience tells him that they could very well be related.
"The odds of the two being unrelated are astronomical, I would say," said Bob Dwyer, who now works as a private investigator in Florida.
But an absence of physical evidence in the 2001 case could make it difficult to prove such a connection, Dwyer said. The best way to tie two crimes together is to match weapons or bullets, he said.
Kirn declined to comment on what kind of gun was used to kill Southworth or if they recovered bullets in the woods where he was shot. A warden said last year that investigators were looking for casings.
The hunting rifle Southworth was carrying - a Ruger model 77 bolt action .03-06-caliber - was missing.
http://www.jsonline.com/news/state/nov04/278124.asp
Sounds like four rules.
Is it just my impression or are there lot more weird murders in Wisconsin than in neighboring Minnesota? Wisconsin can claim Dahmer and Ed Gein, certainly two of the most notorious serial killers. On the other hand Vang apparently lives in Minnesota.
Don't forget that the guy who killed Dahmer also killed Anderson the same hour. I would term both killings "hate crimes" -- or "Hate retribution" due to the nature of the crimes committed by Dahmer and Anderson. You'd think that the Feds could have brought further charges, but no -- they just moved him out.
I doubt this was "planned", likely an angry confrontation with someone he's had issues with before. But like air passengers attitude post 9/11, I'd guess most people will look at tresspassers a bit more suspiciously.
Thanks!!!!!!!!!!
Please add me to your ping list about this too - thanks.
Placemarker.
The one from Adams Co was reported by WISC TV to have dropped his gun out of the deer stand. They said it went off and killed him. No answer from DNR answerman yet.
Nah. He claimed self defense, said they shot first and bad mothed him. He'd end up in the nuthouse if he gutted, tagged and brought 'em to the check station.
I am waiting for the first people to come out and say he is innocent because this is part of the Hmong cuuuuuuulture.
Different incident than the one in 38 I'm sure. An older man shot in the back on public access land in 2001. I remember them trying to identify the shooter for a number of months. The one you mention, this year?
Depending on his state of health that could amount to $35,000 to $50,000 per year for the next 40 or so years.
Maybe we'll all get lucky and he'll get assigned to clean the gym as all the guards go on break. Last time that happened 'ol Jeffy Dalhamer slipped and had a fatal accident with a barbell bar. No harm, no fowl, everybody happy.
Regards,
GtG
PS The Minnesota LEO's should look into Vang's history and check if he's ever pawned a 30-06 Ruger.
Exactly. How long did Jesse Anderson and Jeffrey Dahmer last once they were in prison? A few years at the most.
Yep. It was Monday's tally I think.
You're added, JLO.
Nope. Sounds more like someone who knew exactly what he was about to do, and was planning on evading/escaping when he was done.
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"I wanted the ideal animal to hunt," explained the general. "So I said, `What are the attributes of an ideal quarry?' And the answer was, of course, `It must have courage, cunning, and, above all, it must be able to reason."'
"But no animal can reason," objected Rainsford.
"My dear fellow," said the general, "there is one that can."
"But you can't mean--" gasped Rainsford.
***********************
- The Most Dangerous Game by Richard Connell
No death penalty in WI
Sorry I thought that was this years in #38. They only reported the one shooting, so far. The other death I remember was a heart attack. Excluding this flake's mass killing.
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