WAUSAU – After calling more than 40 witnesses to the stand, prosecutors wrapped up their case against the man accused of killing 22-year-old Stephanie Low in a fight over drugs.
Thomas Wilmouth, the defense attorney representing Kristopher Torgerson, is expected to call his first witness on Thursday when court resumes at 8:30 a.m. Torgerson faces charges of first-degree intentional homicide, armed robbery and hiding a corpse in connection with the October 2010 disappearance and death of Low, who was a missing person for three years. In October 2013, police announced they had enough evidence to believe Low was not missing, but had been killed.
Then in September 2014, after a lengthy investigation by Wausau police detectives, Torgerson led police to Low’s body, buried about 1 1/2 feet beneath a rock in a forest near Wabeno. Earlier this week, prosecutors showed the jury video footage of Togerson, wearing an orange jumpsuit and shackles, leading police to the spot where she was buried. A broken knife was also found at the scene. In the video, Torgerson can be heard telling police he was having trouble with the “intentional” part of the homicide charge. He has not admitted to police that he killed Low, though several witnesses testified that he admitted to the killing.
It is unclear if Torgerson will testify on his own behalf. Wilmouth has strenuously reminded jurors that no physical evidence ties his client to the murder, a fact experts have not disputed.
An Eau Claire County jury is hearing the case and has been sequestered since March 13, when the trial began.
Torgerson faces life in prison if convicted on the homicide charge alone.
