MONROE - A woman living in Monroe as recently as late July was charged this week in connection with the disappearance of her autistic stepson, a 27-year-old Mazomanie man named Matthew Graville who also formerly lived in Monroe.
Laura J. Robar, 49, now living in Fort Atkinson, is being held at the Dane County Jail on charges of identity theft and party to the crime of hiding a corpse, according to the Dane County Sheriff's Department.
Her son, Jeffrey J. Vogelsberg, 28, is charged with killing Graville and hiding his body. Vogelsberg, who also goes by Jeffrey Robar and several other names, was living in Mazomanie with Graville at the time of the alleged murder earlier this summer.
Graville, who had Asperger's syndrome, was last seen June 30. His body was recovered Monday afternoon in a wooded area of public land just off Highway 130 south of Lone Rock. A man living with the stepbrothers in Mazomanie, Robert McCumber, 28, is charged with helping hide Graville's corpse on the Sauk County land on July 5.
Concern for Graville wasn't apparently expressed to authorities until more than three weeks after his death.
On July 23, his step-grandfather emailed Green County Human Services asking for help in finding him, according to Monroe Police Chief Fred Kelley.
Graville had lived in Monroe in the past and the step-grandfather, James Robar, Fort Atkinson, was concerned that he hadn't seen or heard from him. He wanted authorities to do a welfare check on him. Human services forwarded this email to police.
In response, Kelley said Monroe police went to the then-residence of Laura Robar in the 1300 block of 10th Street to inquire about her stepson. She wasn't home. A person at the residence told police Graville was living in Mazomanie and that he last saw Graville June 30 at the Rhythm and Booms fireworks show in Madison.
When police finally reached Laura Robar and asked her about Graville, she reportedly said, "I saw him a few days ago." She also alleged he was using drugs and might be staying with his mother.
Looking back on the case now, Kelley said he realizes "she misled us." Kelly said his officers didn't pursue the case further because they didn't have any indication of foul play.
A call Wednesday evening from the Monroe Times to James Robar was not immediately returned.
Investigation of Graville's disappearance didn't begin in earnest until September, when Graville's biological mother reported him missing to Madison police.
Investigators in Dane County say they have since determined that his stepmother was using his identity after his death to access money for her own benefit from his bank and public assistance accounts.
Vogelsberg is also accused of taking advantage of Graville. The Wisconsin State Journal reports that Graville suffered significant physical, mental and emotional abuse by Vogelsberg and it culminated in a fatal beating June 30. The Dane County Sheriff described Graville's situation as "a living hell."
Monroe police records show Graville lived in Monroe as recently as 2010. Kelley said his officers made contact with Graville a few times that year over routine, non-criminal matters - a 911 misdial, a lost wallet, a warning to move his car because it had been parked too long.
Robar and McCumber have a preliminary hearing Nov. 13 on the charges against them. Vogelsberg was arrested Monday at a military base in Lewis, Wash., and as of Tuesday was being held at a county jail south of Seattle.
- Katjusa Cisar
Laura J. Robar, 49, now living in Fort Atkinson, is being held at the Dane County Jail on charges of identity theft and party to the crime of hiding a corpse, according to the Dane County Sheriff's Department.
Her son, Jeffrey J. Vogelsberg, 28, is charged with killing Graville and hiding his body. Vogelsberg, who also goes by Jeffrey Robar and several other names, was living in Mazomanie with Graville at the time of the alleged murder earlier this summer.
Graville, who had Asperger's syndrome, was last seen June 30. His body was recovered Monday afternoon in a wooded area of public land just off Highway 130 south of Lone Rock. A man living with the stepbrothers in Mazomanie, Robert McCumber, 28, is charged with helping hide Graville's corpse on the Sauk County land on July 5.
Concern for Graville wasn't apparently expressed to authorities until more than three weeks after his death.
On July 23, his step-grandfather emailed Green County Human Services asking for help in finding him, according to Monroe Police Chief Fred Kelley.
Graville had lived in Monroe in the past and the step-grandfather, James Robar, Fort Atkinson, was concerned that he hadn't seen or heard from him. He wanted authorities to do a welfare check on him. Human services forwarded this email to police.
In response, Kelley said Monroe police went to the then-residence of Laura Robar in the 1300 block of 10th Street to inquire about her stepson. She wasn't home. A person at the residence told police Graville was living in Mazomanie and that he last saw Graville June 30 at the Rhythm and Booms fireworks show in Madison.
When police finally reached Laura Robar and asked her about Graville, she reportedly said, "I saw him a few days ago." She also alleged he was using drugs and might be staying with his mother.
Looking back on the case now, Kelley said he realizes "she misled us." Kelly said his officers didn't pursue the case further because they didn't have any indication of foul play.
A call Wednesday evening from the Monroe Times to James Robar was not immediately returned.
Investigation of Graville's disappearance didn't begin in earnest until September, when Graville's biological mother reported him missing to Madison police.
Investigators in Dane County say they have since determined that his stepmother was using his identity after his death to access money for her own benefit from his bank and public assistance accounts.
Vogelsberg is also accused of taking advantage of Graville. The Wisconsin State Journal reports that Graville suffered significant physical, mental and emotional abuse by Vogelsberg and it culminated in a fatal beating June 30. The Dane County Sheriff described Graville's situation as "a living hell."
Monroe police records show Graville lived in Monroe as recently as 2010. Kelley said his officers made contact with Graville a few times that year over routine, non-criminal matters - a 911 misdial, a lost wallet, a warning to move his car because it had been parked too long.
Robar and McCumber have a preliminary hearing Nov. 13 on the charges against them. Vogelsberg was arrested Monday at a military base in Lewis, Wash., and as of Tuesday was being held at a county jail south of Seattle.
- Katjusa Cisar