If you’re a current subscriber, log in below. If you would like to subscribe, please click the subscribe tab above.
Please enter your email and we will send your username and password to you.
By LeAnn R. Ralph
MENOMONIE — Former Colfax resident Richard W. Seehaver has pleaded not guilty in Dunn County Circuit Court on one felony count of first degree intentional homicide.
Seehaver, who is charged in connection with the death of 54-year-old John M. Likeness last December in Menomonie, appeared for an arraignment hearing before Judge Rod W. Smeltzer July 16.
In addition to pleading not guilty, the 52-year-old Seehaver waived the time limit for a speedy trial.
Judge Smeltzer asked if Seehaver’s attorneys, Donna Burger and Shelly Tomtschik, anticipated filing any motions with the court.
Burger said she had not been on the case as long as Tomtschik and needed time to become more familiar with the case.
Judge Smeltzer set a deadline of September 6 to file motions and set another court hearing for Seehaver on September 10 at 3:45 p.m.
Seehaver and Likeness are both early 1980s graduates of Colfax High School, and according to the criminal complaint, Seehaver told investigators he had lived in the house in Menomonie with Likeness for a few months and had lived with Likeness in Cedar Falls before that.
Sergeant Kelly Pollock, a detective with the Menomonie Police Department, testified during a preliminary hearing in Dunn County Circuit Court before Judge Smeltzer June 20 that a 911 call had been received on December 30 in connection with a house on 15th Street Southeast in Menomonie.
When the first officer arrived at the house, through the window, he saw a man in a chair — later identified as Likeness — and Seehaver with his arms around Likeness, Sergeant Pollock testified.
The officers who first arrived on the scene convinced Seehaver to open the door, and when he did, the officers saw his clothing and face were covered in blood, she said.
The officers entered the residence to see if anyone else was in the house, but the only person there was Likeness, who was deceased, Sergeant Pollock said.
A forensic autopsy was conducted in Ramsey County, and the result listed homicide as the cause of death for Likeness and was due to the crossbow bolt on the left side of his chest and three gashes in his throat, Sergeant Pollock testified.
During a court hearing February 28, after the court received a competency evaluation completed by Dr. Donna Minter, a clinical psychologist, Judge Smeltzer ordered Seehaver remanded to the Mendota Health Institute for medication and treatment.
Dr. Minter indicated Seehaver’s competency would be restored with medication and treatment, and after Seehaver was determined to be competent, he could return to the court for further proceedings.
Another competency evaluation was submitted to the court in May, and Seehaver was determined to be competent to proceed with the case.
A $200,000 cash bail had been set January 2, but Judge Smeltzer increased the cash bail to $500,000 on January 14.
At the time of the July 16 court hearing, Seehaver remained in custody.
First-degree intentional homicide carries a maximum penalty of life in prison.
