OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Bradley Boettcher pleaded no contest Monday to a reduced charge for killing his mother – but he was found not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect.
Boettcher, 36, was charged with first-degree intentional homicide for the Feb. 20, 2019, death of Lee Ann Dorn at her Appleton apartment.
However, the count was changed Monday second-degree intentional homicide, which includes an element of provocation towards Boettcher, according to Deputy District Attorney Eric Sparr.
Boettcher previously also pleaded not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect. The psychiatrist hired by prosecutor found that Boettcher should indeed be found not guilty to his psychological condition – and both the state and defense agreed to that finding.
A hearing Thursday will determine the length and conditions of the commitment.
Dorn was killed in February and Boettcher was arrested the next day in Kentucky, but charges were not filed until September.
According to the criminal complaint, Dorn and Boettcher lived together. They would often argue about him moving out, and he would threaten to kill her, several people said. Dorn died of blunt force trauma to the head, the complaint states.
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