Jury in La Crosse County triple-murder trial to continue deliberating Tuesday, after failing to agree on verdict

After meeting for five hours Monday without reaching a verdict, jurors at the Nya Thao murder trial will return to court Tuesday morning for more deliberation.

Thao is on trial for the second time, accused of firing the gunshots that killed three men at a West Salem quarry. The murders of Nemo Yang, Peng Lor, and Trevor Maloney happened in July of 2021.

Thao’s first trial last year ended with the jury deadlocked. A second suspect, Kham Rattanasack, already has been convicted in the murders and is in prison.

Justice Department prosecutor Adrienne Blais argued Monday that Rattanasack wanted the victims killed, and used his friend Thao to do the “dirty work” of the actual murders.

Defense attorney Aaron Nelson said Thao did not have a motive for the shootings, and claims the evidence points to Rattanasack, who was police said was owed $600 by one of the victims.

Following closing arguments in the week-long trial, the jury discussed the case for five hours.

Shortly before 6 p.m. Monday, Judge Elliott Levine said jurors could break for the night and return late Tuesday morning to resume their task.

Thao’s first trial in June of 2023 ended when that jury met for 10 hours, but could not agree on a verdict.