Iowa mother's husband pleads no contest in her Wisconsin shooting death
A Wisconsin man whose estranged wife had been living in Iowa with their children pleaded no contest Tuesday to charges he killed her, court records show.
Jared Ler'che, 43, entered the plea to first-degree intentional homicide in the January 2024 death of his wife, Margaret Ler'che, 34. A no-contest plea means he does not admit guilt but accepts the conviction and penalty. Prosecutors are recommending a 25-year prison sentence. Sentencing is set for Oct. 22.
How the case connects to Iowa
Margaret Ler'che and the couple's two children had been living with her father in Iowa for three months before her death. She was planning to return to Iowa with the children on the day she was killed, according to court documents.
Her father requested a welfare check after she failed to arrive. He told police his daughter and son-in-law were having marital problems.
What happened the day of the killing
About 10 minutes after Margaret's father contacted authorities, St. Paul dispatch alerted Polk County, Wisconsin, law enforcement that Jared Ler'che had called a crisis line. He said he was driving around with the couple's two children and having suicidal thoughts.
When a Polk County officer spoke with Jared Ler'che, he claimed he did not know where his wife was. He suggested the officer check her social media messages to see which boyfriend she might have run off with, documents state.
The officer walked around the Ler'che home and saw a blanket on the basement floor through a window. Officers entered later that evening and found Margaret Ler'che dead under the blanket. She had been shot in the back of the head with a .22 rifle, which was found next to her. A charging cord was wrapped around her neck, and she appeared to have been dragged.
Arrest and evidence
Officers met Jared Ler'che at a Kwik Trip in Osceola. During the conversation, he claimed his wife was having affairs and was involved in human trafficking of children, but provided no details about her location.
At one point, Jared Ler'che reached for a sawed-off shotgun near his feet, but an officer arrested him. The officer noticed blood on his clothes, according to charges.
Resources for those in crisis
For anonymous, confidential help, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or 1-800-787-3224.
If you or someone you know is in emotional distress, call or text the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988. Trained counselors are available 24 hours a day.
Help is also available from the National Alliance on Mental Illness. Call the NAMI Helpline at 800-950-6264 or text HelpLine to 62640.