Courts

39-year-old La Crosse man, facing charges of stabbing his wife 50 times, allowed to keep searching for lawyer

Published

1 week ago

June 19, 2024

Brad Williams

Murder suspect Zachary Fritz has been granted more time to find a defense attorney.

The 39-year-old La Crosse man is charged with fatally stabbing his wife over 50 times at their La Crosse home this month.

On Wednesday, Judge Scott Horne found that Fritz does not qualify for a public defender. He will be given two more weeks to look for an attorney.

Fritz, who’s bond was set at $1 million last week, appeared in court by video from the county jail. It’s been just over a week since the death of his wife Ellen at the family’s home.

His next court hearing is set for July 2.

Fritz was arrested for assault in 2009, in a La Crosse County domestic abuse case. He was found not guilty on three counts, due to mental disease or defect.

Brad Williams

A native of Prairie du Chien, Brad graduated from UW - La Crosse and has worked in radio news for more than 30 years, mostly in the La Crosse area. He regularly covers local courts and city and county government. Brad produces the features "Yesterday in La Crosse" and "What's Buried on Brad's Desk." He also writes the website "Triviazoids," which finds odd connections between events that happen on a certain date, and he writes and performs with the local comedy group Heart of La Crosse. Brad been featured on several national TV programs because of his memory skills.