Nicholas N. Grundman (Outagamie Co. Jail)
APPLETON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – A man who allegedly sprayed gasoline around the garage and on a door at his estranged wife’s home before setting it on fire was ordered Thursday to stand trial.
Nicholas Grundman is charged with attempted first-degree intentional homicide, arson, and other counts for the March 19 incident at a Greenville home.
After testimony by an officer at a preliminary hearing Thursday, Grundman was ordered to stand trial. Arraignment is scheduled for May 5.
According to the criminal complaint, the estranged wife had filed for divorce and kicked Grundman out. In the days before the fire, he was harassing her with text messages and phone calls. The morning of the fire, her cat woke the woman up, and she noticed the fire. She was able to escape the home and call 911.
Eventually, Grundman confessed.
The defendant explained that he is remorseful and feels terrible for what he did. Then he stated, “I used gasoline” and explained it was a from a red gas container, which he got off the shelf in the garage. Sgt. Pedranzan asked him where he would have dumped the gasoline, which he said he ‘put a little bit next to the fridge’. He further explained that he dumped the gas on the right side of the refrigerator and on the workbench which was located along the wall. The defendant said he lit the gasoline with a lighter,” the complaint states.
Outagamie County court records list the address as a home on Fawn Ridge Court. That address is also listed for Grundman and his estranged wife in their divorce proceedings.
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