Wife arrested for 2006 homicide of Unity man in his home
Thirteen years after her husband was found murdered at his home near Unity, Cindy Schulz-Juedes is now in Marathon County Jail slated for a hearing next week Friday to face a charge of firstdegree homicide. On Monday, Marathon County Circuit Court Judge Michael Moran ruled there was probable cause to hold Schulz-Juedes, 65, Chippewa Falls, for the murder of her late husband, Kenneth Juedes, 58, who was shot twice at his home at H3752 Maple Rd. The judge then ordered $1 million bail.
Wisconsin Department of Justice attorney Dick DeFour, assisting Marathon County District Attorney Theresa Wetzsteon, called for the bail amount, arguing Schulz-Juedes, who has not been charged with a crime, had the opportunity, means and motive to kill her husband with a 20-gauge shotgun on Aug. 30, 2006.
DeFour, summarizng a search warrant used to investigate the cold-case murder, said Schulz-Juedes owned a 20-gauge shotgun and stood to benefit from her husband’s $1 million life insurance policy and sale of the couple’s $200,000 rural property.
He said that while Schulz-Juedes reported the slaying to a neighbor in a white robe without a trace of blood on it, the suspect had made “inconsistent statements to law enforcement” that caused her to be under suspicion. DeFour said Schulz-Juedes’s marriage had been a troubled one.
He noted that Schulz-Juedes slept in an extremely hot, uncomfortable camper the night of the murder when she would have been cooler and more comfortable in a basement bedroom.
Public defender Trevor Peterson said law enforcement had not yet “put together the pieces of the puzzle” in the Juedes homicide and that bits and pieces of evidence about campers, robes and shotguns did not add up to a case against the suspect.
“Thirteen years later, it does not lead to Ms. Schulz-Juedes,” he said.
Moran, who had approved the search warrant, ruled there was probable cause to hold Schulz-Juedes in jail.
In arguments over bail, Peterson said Schulz-Juedes had remained in central Wisconsin for the past 13 years and, partially responsible for the care of a 13-year-old grandson, did not pose a flight risk. He recommended a $100,000 bond with $10,000 required in cash.
DeFour countered that Schulz-Juedes faced a “different situation” now that she was arrested and would be charged with first-degree homicide. He said the suspect needed to stay in jail with a $1 million cash bond.
Moran agreed with the prosecution.
“I feel a $1 million cash bond is appropriate at this time given where we are in this case,” he said.”I am very concerned about her appearance in court.”
No criminal complaint has yet been filed in the case, but it is expected one will be filed in conjunction with Schulz-Juedes’ initial appearance scheduled for Friday, Dec. 13.
On Monday, the Marathon County Sheriff’s Department issued a press release announcing the arrest of Schulz-Juedes.
The department said other agencies involved in the homicide investigation were the Marathon County Medical Examiner’s Office, the Marathon County District Attorney’s Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Wisconsin Department of Justice, the Wisconsin State Crime Lab, the Division of Criminal Investigation and the State Attorney General’s Office.
Family reacts
Ken’s sister, Laurie Juedes, who lives in Washington state near Seattle, said her reaction to news of Cindy’s arrest was “relief.” Laurie said she started looking into Cindy’s background shortly after her brother’s murder in 2006, and what she discovered scared her.
“The more I found out about her, the more dangerous she appeared to be,” she said.
Now that Cindy has been arrested and will face charges, Laurie said she hopes more arrests will follow.
“I know that Cindy will not go down easily,” she said. “I think she may open up and tell detectives who else is involved in this murder.”
Laurie Juedes said authorities first informed her brother, Don, last week that Cindy’s arrest was imminent. That message was relayed to their 101-year-old mother, Margaret.
Laurie Juedes said she has been afraid to return to the area because she suspects other people involved in her brother’s murder may be a threat to her. She said Cindy was always at the top of that list.
“As long as she’s in custody, I feel safer coming back to Wisconsin,” she said.
