Jessica Kroening (Photo courtesy Washington County Jail)
(WTAQ-WLUK) – The woman now charged in connection with the investigation into the illegal poaching of more than 100 deer allegedly shined a deer from her vehicle while a juvenile shot it from the car on at least one occasion, and tossed a phone into the river rather than let law enforcement examine it for evidence, according to a criminal complaint.
More than two months after the Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Office, along with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, asked for information about suspected deer poaching, tips led to the discovery of a large-scale scheme which spanned three counties in about a 200-mile region. The sheriff’s office said more than 100 deer were shot and/or killed from spring 2023 into July 2024. The incidents stretched from Lomira and Waucousta down to Theresa and West Bend.
Jessica Kroening, 36, faces three misdemeanor counts: contributing to the delinquency of a child, illegal shining of deer, and resisting a conservation warden. A Dec. 2 initial appearance is scheduled in Washington County court.
Three juveniles are also charged in the case in Fond du Lac County.
According to the complaint, filed Wednesday, police were called to Campbellsport home in July for a report of foul odor coming from a garbage bag behind the residence. Inside, four deer heads were found. Kroening denied any knowledge of them.
The owner of the property, who had been in a relationship with Kroening, told police a juvenile who lived there had been killing deer for more than a year, with help from another juvenile. Police talked to the second juvenile, who admitted what was happening.
“Juvenile 2 stated that he and Juvenile 1 have been going around and shooting deer at night with a spotlight and a rifle for approximately one year. Juvenile 2 stated that they always used the defendant’s vehicle to go out shooting deer. He stated that they use firearms owned by Juvenile 1’s family. Juvenile 2 also stated that the defendant is aware of them shooting deer and has been on the phone with them while they are out doing it. He also stated that the defendant and others have accompanied them to shoot deer,” the complaint states.
Police talked to a third juvenile, who also admitted to participating in the shoots on three days in July, from midnight to 4 a.m.
“Juvenile 3 stated that they shot three whitetail bucks on July 13, 2024. He stated that Juveniles 1 and 2 cut the heads off of the deer while he waited in the car,” the complaint states.
He identified the deer heads found at the Campbellsport home as the ones shot in an area west of Kewaskum.
Police then talked to the first juvenile, who also admitted to his role.
“Juvenile 1 stated that he and Juvenile 2 had been going out with a spotlight shooting deer for months, and he estimated they had gone out fifty times. He stated he drives the defendant’s Chevy Malibu when they shoot deer at night. Juvenile 1 stated that he saved the heads from the most recent seven deer to boil them and make European mounts with them,” the complaint states.
Kroening then admitted her participation.
“She stated that she was in the rear driver’s seat while the juvenile was in the driver’s seat. The defendant stated that Juvenile 1 held the firearm between his leg and the center console by the driver’s seat. She stated that from the backseat, she held the spotlight while Juvenile 1 shot out of the front driver’s seat. The defendant stated that after the deer was killed, Juvenile 1 drove her home and picked up Juvenile 2 to go retrieve the deer. She stated that the two boys waited about three hours to retrieve the deer so they would not get caught,” the complaint states.
Police searched Kroening’s vehicle, recovering “a bloody steak knife, a bloody wooden saw, a blood Milwaukee brand spotlight, three bloody floormats, a .22 caliber bullet, and two bloody pocket knives. Said officer further reports that the defendant eventually turned over two firearms that the Juveniles had used – a .22 caliber rifle and a 7 mm rifle. Both rifles had the serial numbers scratched off, and said officer reports it appeared they were scratched off recently due to the bright shiny metal where the serial numbers had been located and metal shavings on the stocks.”
After police obtained a search warrant for the phone of one of the juveniles, they made arrangements to meet Kroening to get it. She then made these statements to police:
- “You’re not getting his phone; that’s not happening.”
- “The phone is long gone.”
- “If you want it, go dig it out of the river.”
- “I smashed the phone.”
- “The minute [Juvenile 2] warned us that you guys had warrants for phones his phone was gone.”
- “I threw it in the river. I’m not lying.”
“Said officer reports that Warden Metzger asked the defendant why she would throw it in the river. The defendant responded, “Because nobody needs his phone.”,” the complaint states.
The three juveniles, all 16-years-old, are at different stages of their cases.
Comments