By LeAnn R. Ralph
MENOMONIE — A man charged with first degree intentional homicide in Dunn County has filed a “notice of injury and claim” against the county for $2 million.
The Dunn County Board unanimously approved denying the claim filed by Ryan Steinhoff at the county board’s July 28 meeting.
The claim was filed against the Dunn County Sheriff’s Department and was turned over to the county’s insurance company, said Vaughn Hedlund, county board supervisor from Boyceville and chair of the Committee on Administration.
The insurance company is recommending denying the claim, he said.
Steinhoff is currently in custody at the Dunn County jail, and his claim for $2 million was filed because he alleges that the sheriff’s department inappropriately used his mental health records and intercepted confidential attorney-client communications, said Nick Lange, Dunn County Corporation Counsel.
The county’s liability insurance carrier, Wisconsin County Mutual Insurance Corporation, is recommending the Dunn County Board deny the claim so the county “can continue with a vigorous defense,” he said.
Once the claim has been denied, a notice of denial will be issued this week, Lange said.
According to the background information included with the resolution denying the claim, “No action on this claim may be brought against Dunn County after six months from the date of service of notice of the disallowance, pursuant to Wis. Stat. 893.80.”
The background information also notes that the “Notice of Injury and Claim” was mailed to the Dunn County Department of Administration, addressed to the Dunn County Board chair, on June 24.
Homicide
Steinhoff, age 38, is charged with first degree intentional homicide, along with Chad D. Turgeson, age 37, and Ashley A. Gunder, age 24, in connection with the death of Bruce E. McGuigan, age 37, of Hayward, at N2564 440th Street in the Town of Dunn November 17, 2020.
The charge of first degree intentional homicide also has three modifiers: use of a dangerous weapon, as a repeat offender and as a party to a crime.
Steinhoff is charged,too, with three felony counts of bail jumping and a misdemeanor count of retail theft as a party to a crime and as a repeat offender.
During a preliminary hearing December 28 for Chad Turgeson, Sergeant Travis Mayer with the Dunn County Sheriff’s Department testified Steinhoff and Turgeson had been staying at the Americinn in Menomonie and had gone to Kwik Trip and were eating items they had not purchased and that they had taken items from the convenience store.
Steinhoff and Turgeson left the residence of George Welch in the Town of Dunn where the murder occurred with a woman named Courtney Rice.
When deputies were looking for the vehicle, which was registered to Rice’s father, they found the vehicle parked at the Americinn.
During a court hearing December 30, 2020, Steinhoff’s attorney, Matthew Krische, objected to the addition of retail theft charge.
Judge Rod Smeltzer determined the count of retail theft was transactionally related to the other charges.
Break-in
According to the criminal complaint, George Welch told investigators that while he had been in town, four people had broken into his house. Welch said he knew two of the people. One was “Chad” — later identified as Chad Turgeson — and “Little Red,” identified as Ashley Gunder. Welch said he did not know another individual, who seemed to be in charge, and that he also did not know the victim.
Welch said he was told not to go to the bedroom because someone was being “schooled” and that he had heard noises coming from the bedroom.
According to a news release from the Dunn County Sheriff’s Department, deputies started a homicide investigation at around 3:42 p.m. November 17, 2020, after responding to N2564 440th Street to check on the welfare of someone at the residence and discovered a deceased adult, white male.
Gunder was taken into custody at the residence, and Steinhoff and Turgeson were arrested in Menomonie later that evening at around 11:30 p.m.
The Ramsey County Medical Examiner’s Office conducted an autopsy on the deceased, and the pathologist determined the cause of death was multiple blunt force injuries.
Judge James Peterson set a cash bail of $500,000 for each of the suspects on November 25, 2020.
During a court hearing March 4, Krische told Judge Rod Smeltzer that Steinhoff wished to change his plea to not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect.
Steinhoff is scheduled for another court appearance August 16.
