DARLINGTON - Jaren Kuester, the Milwaukee man accused of bludgeoning three rural South Wayne residents to death, is competent but confused and has a feeble grasp on reality, according to his attorney.
Kuester, 31, made his first appearance Friday, May 10, on three first-degree intentional homicide charges for the murders of Gary Thoreson, 70, his wife Chloe Thoreson, 66, and his brother Dean Thoreson, 76, on April 27 in the home where Gary and Chloe lived on Philippine Road in Wiota Township.
A preliminary hearing is set for 1:45 p.m. Monday, May 13. Kuester is being held in isolation at the Lafayette County Jail on $3 million bail.
Kuester has been cooperative and easy to talk with, his attorney Guy Taylor said afterward outside the courtroom. Still, Taylor is concerned about Kuester's mental health and is "vigorously" investigating the possibility of an insanity plea.
"His confusion extends to his recollection, his grasp of the difference between reality and delusion," Taylor said. When questioned about Kuester's remorse, Taylor responded, "I think he's so confused, we haven't even gotten to that."
Kuester said nothing and kept his head down during the 15-minute hearing Friday afternoon. Both his family and the victims' family sat in the courtroom. As the details of his case were discussed, his mother sat frozen, head down, with her fingers pressed on her forehead. She and her husband told the Wisconsin State Journal this week that Waukesha County officials declined to hospitalize their son despite their repeated pleas recently that he was delusional and potentially dangerous and needed help.
A criminal complaint filed earlier this week says Kuester admitted bludgeoning the Thoresons with a fireplace poker. He told investigators his life was "crashing and burning" and that he started driving aimlessly after being bailed out of jail in Waukesha Friday, April 26. He happened at random upon the empty home of Gary and Chloe Thoreson later that day after abandoning his SUV near Browntown.
Dean Thoreson was killed when he arrived at the home sometime Saturday, April 27. Later, after he had been reported missing, his brother and sister-in-law were also murdered in the home, reportedly after they left a relative's home nearby to go look for him.
The case against Kuester is being prosecuted by District Attorney Kate Findley and Assistant Attorneys General Roy Korte and Richard Dufour.
Three public defenders are assigned to Kuester. Jane Kleven and Jason Daane are assisting Taylor on the case.
Korte, Dufour, Taylor and Daane all worked on another recent high-profile homicide case in Lafayette County, of Armin Wand III. Wand was sentenced last month to life in prison for the deaths of his three young sons.
Taylor told reporters afterward he wants to dispel the notion that a lifelong sentence to a mental institution - the likely result of an insanity plea - amounts to getting off easy. It is "hardly a walk in the park," he said.
Kuester, 31, made his first appearance Friday, May 10, on three first-degree intentional homicide charges for the murders of Gary Thoreson, 70, his wife Chloe Thoreson, 66, and his brother Dean Thoreson, 76, on April 27 in the home where Gary and Chloe lived on Philippine Road in Wiota Township.
A preliminary hearing is set for 1:45 p.m. Monday, May 13. Kuester is being held in isolation at the Lafayette County Jail on $3 million bail.
Kuester has been cooperative and easy to talk with, his attorney Guy Taylor said afterward outside the courtroom. Still, Taylor is concerned about Kuester's mental health and is "vigorously" investigating the possibility of an insanity plea.
"His confusion extends to his recollection, his grasp of the difference between reality and delusion," Taylor said. When questioned about Kuester's remorse, Taylor responded, "I think he's so confused, we haven't even gotten to that."
Kuester said nothing and kept his head down during the 15-minute hearing Friday afternoon. Both his family and the victims' family sat in the courtroom. As the details of his case were discussed, his mother sat frozen, head down, with her fingers pressed on her forehead. She and her husband told the Wisconsin State Journal this week that Waukesha County officials declined to hospitalize their son despite their repeated pleas recently that he was delusional and potentially dangerous and needed help.
A criminal complaint filed earlier this week says Kuester admitted bludgeoning the Thoresons with a fireplace poker. He told investigators his life was "crashing and burning" and that he started driving aimlessly after being bailed out of jail in Waukesha Friday, April 26. He happened at random upon the empty home of Gary and Chloe Thoreson later that day after abandoning his SUV near Browntown.
Dean Thoreson was killed when he arrived at the home sometime Saturday, April 27. Later, after he had been reported missing, his brother and sister-in-law were also murdered in the home, reportedly after they left a relative's home nearby to go look for him.
The case against Kuester is being prosecuted by District Attorney Kate Findley and Assistant Attorneys General Roy Korte and Richard Dufour.
Three public defenders are assigned to Kuester. Jane Kleven and Jason Daane are assisting Taylor on the case.
Korte, Dufour, Taylor and Daane all worked on another recent high-profile homicide case in Lafayette County, of Armin Wand III. Wand was sentenced last month to life in prison for the deaths of his three young sons.
Taylor told reporters afterward he wants to dispel the notion that a lifelong sentence to a mental institution - the likely result of an insanity plea - amounts to getting off easy. It is "hardly a walk in the park," he said.