A murder of a Conover woman in 1992 was back in Vilas County court last week after defense attorney Steven Wright filed motions for renewed DNA testing on the microscopic level.
According to court documents Danica Janssen was found by town of Conover road crew laying alongside Silver Birch Road in October, 1992.
James Janssen, now 52, was charged with 1st degree homicide and was found guilty by a jury on September 15, 1994. Then district attorney Steven Lucareli prosecuted the case and then Judge James Mohr sentenced Janssen to state prison for life.
The state pathologist ruled death from homicidal strangulation and apparently the victim was sexually assaulted. State testing of semen from a robe matched blood standards taken from her husband.
Wright wanted the court to order testing samples again to include “touch DNA” with the states position, as expressed by attorney Robert Kaiser, that standard testing protocol was followed and “this process needs to come to an end.”
Judge Neal “Chip” Nielsen admitted his knowledge of specific DNA tests was weak, but since both parties filed briefs he would study them and make a ruling later.
James Janssen is in the state prison in Stanley, Wisconsin and according to the sentence by Judge Mohr, he is eligible for parole after serving 15 years.
