A Wisconsin jury acquitted Tony Haase of a 1992 double murder despite his confession and DNA evidence, highlighting doubts about the reliability of his admission and the forensic proof.
In March 1992, Tim Mumbrue and Tanna Togstad were brutally stabbed to death in Togstad’s farmhouse in Waupaca County, Wisconsin. The case remained unsolved for decades, with initial suspicions falling on Jeff Thiel, Togstad’s former suitor. However, DNA evidence later excluded Thiel, who died by suicide in 1995 while fleeing law enforcement. The investigation stalled until 2022, when renewed efforts using genealogical data linked the crime to Thiel’s cousin, Tony Haase.
Heather Thiel, Jeff’s daughter, had long believed her father was the killer and provided DNA samples that ultimately pointed to Haase. Authorities confirmed the match through covert DNA collection from Haase, tying him to semen found on Togstad’s body. This breakthrough led to Haase’s arrest in August 2022, reigniting hopes for justice in the cold case that had haunted the community for over 30 years.
During police interrogations, Haase initially denied any involvement but later confessed, stating he was in a “drunken stupor” on the night of the murders. He described fragmented memories, such as seeing a barbell in the bedroom and vomiting outside, which investigators interpreted as signs of guilt. However, Haase’s defense team argued that these admissions were coerced during hours of intense questioning, planting false memories in a susceptible individual.
Haase’s trial began in July 2025, with his attorneys challenging the DNA evidence’s integrity due to degradation over years of storage. They also portrayed Jeff Thiel as the likely perpetrator, citing his violent history, obsession with knives, and alleged motive from Togstad’s rejection. In contrast, prosecutors emphasized the DNA match and confession as compelling proof, dismissing Thiel as a “perfect scapegoat” without direct evidence linking him to the crime.
The jury deliberated for four days, during which they reviewed interrogation videos and grappled with the evidence. Ultimately, they acquitted Haase, citing reasonable doubt about the confession’s validity and the forensic reliability. This verdict surprised many, including victims’ families, and underscored the complexities of prosecuting decades-old cases where memories and evidence may be compromised.
In the aftermath, Heather Thiel expressed renewed uncertainty, shifting her belief back to her father’s guilt and questioning the forensic conclusions. The case highlights enduring mysteries in cold-case investigations and the challenges of balancing confession evidence with potential coercion, leaving the community without closure but prompting reflections on justice and memory.
