Wisconsin – A Wisconsin man was sentenced last week to fourteen years in prison followed by six years of probation after pIeading guIlty earlier this year to first‑degree reckIess homicide in the death of his spouse, 68‑year‑old May. The defendant, 71-year-old G. Lakso, had originally faced more serious charges, including first‑degree intentionaI homicide, domestic abuse by stranguIation and suffocation, and hiding a corpse in connection with the kiIIing, but a plea agreement reduced the charge to reckIess homicide in exchange for his guiIty pIea.
The sentencing hearing marked the conclusion of a case that began earlier in the year when police were called to the couple’s Wisconsin home for a possible domestic disturbance and welfare check after a 911 caller expressed concern that the woman had been harmed. Officers arrived just after 1:45 p.m. and found the defendant at the residence, but the woman was nowhere to be found and could not be reached by phone.
Investigators soon expanded their search beyond the home. After law enforcement canvassed the area and checked the couple’s phone records, they located the victim’s cell phone records indicating her location had shifted toward a rural area. Around 4 p.m., officers discovered her body Iying at the edge of a cornfieId in that area. The County Medical Examiner’s Office later determined her death was a homicide, with asphyxiation by stranguIation listed as the cause of death.
When officers made initial contact with the defendant at the home, he spoke with them but did not immediately explain what had happened to his spouse. According to court documents and the criminal complaint, he told officers that his wife had talked at him for several hours and became aggressive, leading to a confrontation that got out of hand. He claimed she struck him during their argument and that he did not know what else to say when police asked what happened.
At one point during the encounter with law enforcement, he appeared to be unaware that officers had yet to locate the victim’s body. When asked if his spouse was still inside the home, he reportedly responded, “Oh, you didn’t find her?” and then clarified, “She’s dead.” He then offered to show officers where she was.
Further search efforts led police to the cornfield where the victim’s body was found. In the basement of the residence, investigators also discovered a pair of gloves with what appeared to be bIood on them, which was consistent with the defendant’s admitted involvement. Officers arrested him at the scene and transported him to the county jail.