UNDATED (WSAU-Wheeler News) A jury will hear opening arguments today in the sanity trial of a former Dane County sheriff’s deputy who has admitted killing his wife and sister-in-law. Ten women and five men were picked yesterday to hear the case of 40-year-old Andrew Steele of Fitchburg. Twelve of those jurors will decide whether Steele was mentally ill when he shot-and-killed his 39-year-old Ashlee and her 38-year-old sister Kacee Tollefsbol of Lake Elmo Minnesota.
The shootings occurred last August at the Steeles’ home. The former deputy has already pleaded guilty to two counts of first-degree intentional homicide — so if the jury does not find him insane, he’ll face two life prison terms. If he is found to be mentally ill, Steele will be sent to an institution for treatment. Steele, who spent 14 years in the sheriff’s department in Madison, was diagnosed with A-L-S last June. That was two months before the killings.
