MONROE — The boyfriend of a missing Monticello woman Monday was sentenced to five years in state prison on charges unrelated to the disappearance of the 37-year-old mother, Melissa Trumpy.
But Monday’s sentencing — including emotional victim-impact testimony — occurred against the backdrop of Trumpy’s disappearance, as Hammer is suspected of foul play in the case and is among the last people to see her alive since her disappearance in Oct. 2021. Authorities in Carroll County (Ill.) are now treating the disappearance as a homicide investigation.
And District Attorney Craig Nolen poignantly referenced the “elephant in the room,” — Trumpy, the missing woman — as the judge considered sentencing on several bail jumping felonies, a disorderly conduct, drug, and weapons charges.
In the end, Rock County Circuit Judge Ashley J. Morse sentenced Hammer to serve about 5 years in prison on the most severe charges, with the time running concurrently and credit granted to Hammer for about 430 days he has spent in Green County Jail.
Hammer sat in court with a black sport coat on and looked ahead stone-faced throughout the proceedings, even as Benny Affrunti, the father of Trumpy’s two youngest kids, seethed at what he said the defendant has put his family through.
“He has traumatized my children through the better part of their lives,” said Affrunti, his anger visible on the stand as he stared at Hammer. “I don’t think he belongs in society.”
Also extremely emotional was Dalana Trumpy, Melissa’s daughter, who tried to testify but broke down in tears and put her hand on the side of her face to avoid looking at Hammer.
“I’m never gonna get back my mom,” she said through heavy tears, before stepping back down, unable to say anymore.
For his part Hammer’s attorney, Nils Wyosnick did not directly oppose the state’s recommended sentence of about 5 years, but he urged the court to consider only the crimes to which he had pleaded guilty. He said the sentence would amount to five years for “low level” offenses.
“Don’t judge my client today for allegations and innuendo,” said Wyosnick.
He also urged Morse to avoid the emotion and lack of answers surrounding Trumpy’s disappearance. But Nolen said out loud what many in Trumpy’s family believe.
“There is strong evidence to believe (Melissa Trumpy) is deceased,” Nolen said at one point.
Hammer’s sentence also includes five years of extended release, and Morse said she wanted to keep the door open for him to get addiction counseling and other rehabilitation while he was behind bars. But she said she was especially troubled by the fact that one of the charges against Hammer stemmed from an incident where children saw him, a felon, with a gun during an argument with their mother.
“I understand why there’s been a lot of attention paid on this case,” said Morse. “It doesn’t say good things about your character, I will say that Mr. Hammer.”
Hammer had been in Green County Jail for nearly two years, even as the probe into the missing Trumpy continued in Wisconsin and Illinois, where her empty vehicle was found. Search parties have scoured the countryside in two states to try and find her remains.
Hammer also faces additional charges in Carroll and Stephenson County, Ill., including drug related offenses. Hammer’s Carroll County arrest came after he reportedly threatened to kill a neighbor in Shannon for harassing his mother, within days of his return home from Green County Jail.
Before returning to the Midwest, Hammer served less than two years at High Desert State Prison in Nevada for possessing and manufacturing explosives and battery by strangulation. He was paroled there in 2019, records indicate.