Staff Blogs

Men in murder-for-hire case bound over for trial

By Jim Stevens

Feb. 5, 2010

Waukesha – A court commissioner this morning found there was probable cause Darren M. Wold and Jack E. Johnson plotted to kill Wold’s former girlfriend, Kimberly Smith of the City of Oconomowoc Oct. 1.

Court Commissioner Martin Binn said testimony provided by the prosecution’s 14 witnesses and 19 pieces of evidence showed there was a “reasonable inference” the men probably caused the crime.
Johnson, 65, of Mexico, and Wold, 41, of Lubbock, Texas, are suspected in a murder-for-hire plot to have Smith, 39, killed. Justin P. Welch, 26, of Mexico, is suspected to have stabbed Smith multiple times in Smith’s home early Oct. 1.

Wold was upset over a custody dispute with Smith over their young son and according to testimony by a co-worker of Wold’s said wanted to see Smith dead.
Wold is accused of sending money to Johnson who allegedly financed Welch’s trip to Wisconsin from California.

Prosecutors used phone records and money transfers by Wold and Johnson to link the men to Welch. Welch’s DNA was found on the murder weapon, prosecutors say.

Wold’s attorney Anthony Rosario dismissed the prosecution’s case saying there needs to be “incredible planning” for such a murder to take place. “Stupidity cannot be part of the equation,” Rosario said.

Also, about $1,000 was given to Johnson by Wold for the alleged murder. Rosario inferred Welch committed the slaying on the cheap.

“This guy is the Kmart for murder-for-hire,” Rosario said.

Both men entered not guilty pleas.

Screen Name: required
Your URL: optional
Your Comment: required
Send Your Comment Reset

Men in murder-for-hire case bound over for trial

advertisement