Yesterday in La Crosse
Murder for hire on the next Montel, 17 years ago
In 2001, viewers of the Montel Williams talk show were introduced to James Schuman of Galesville. Schuman wasn’t a guest, but his estranged wife was…to talk about Jim’s attempt to hire a hit man to kill her. Viewers saw a hidden camera video of Schuman speaking with an undercover agent posing as a hit man. Part of Schuman’s unsuccessful defense at trial was that he only pretended he wanted his wife dead, and talked tough so the “hit man” wouldn’t hurt him.
Donald Olson was sentenced to 50 years in prison that November, for a brutal knife attack on college student Sarah Binder. She was jogging near the La Crosse River marsh when Olson came after her. One doctor said most people would have died from the face and neck wounds Binder received, but she recovered from them.
In happier news, West Salem native Damian Miller was a world champion. Miller was playing baseball for the Arizona Diamondbacks, who won the World Series that November…17 years ago, 2001, yesterday in La Crosse.