Wisconsin Triple Homicide Suspect Arrested After Manhunt
Suspect Virgil Thew at his first court appearance, Friday, Jan. 10. Image via News800
A Wisconsin man has been arrested and charged in connection with a triple homicide in Juneau County.
Virgil Thew, 47, faces three counts of first-degree intentional homicide following the deaths in New Lisbon on Dec. 30, 2024.
According to the criminal complaint, authorities discovered the victims—Elizabeth Kolba, 33, and two juvenile females ages 12 and 13—inside a residence on the city’s west side after responding to a welfare check.
PREVIOUSLY: 3 Found Dead in Wisconsin Home, Authorities Search for Suspect
The victims were all found with gunshot wounds. Investigators believe the shootings occurred earlier in the day.
Thew, who was initially not found at the scene, was quickly identified as a suspect. Law enforcement launched a manhunt, eventually locating Thew on Thursday, Jan. 9, in a wooded area near Germantown Township, about 20 miles from the crime scene. Officers reported that Thew was armed but surrendered without incident after being surrounded.
The complaint details witness statements and evidence tying Thew to the homicides, including a report of him leaving the area in a pickup truck shortly after gunshots were heard. Police later located the vehicle abandoned near the woods where Thew was arrested. A search of the truck reportedly uncovered additional evidence linking him to the shootings.
Thew appeared in court Friday, where a judge set bail at $5 million, citing the severity of the charges and the danger posed to the community. If convicted, Thew faces life in prison for each of the three homicide charges.
The Juneau County Sheriff’s Office and Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation continue to investigate the case. Authorities have not disclosed a potential motive.
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