Court begins for Wausau man accused of homicide

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WAUSAU, Wis. (AP) — A Wausau man charged last month with killing a 22-year-old woman during a robbery and burying her body nearly four years ago is being held on $2 million bond.

Kristopher Torgerson made his first appearance in court Wednesday since police charged him with first-degree intentional homicide in connection with the death of Stephanie Low. He’s also charged with armed robbery and hiding a corpse. He appeared in Marathon County Circuit Court via a live video stream from a maximum-security prison in Boscobel, where he is serving time on separate charges, the Wausau Daily Herald Media reported.

Leonard Kachinsky, the attorney representing Torgerson, said his client opted not to physically appear in court because media attention and the long drive to and from the prison. He has previously said that Torgerson plans to plead not guilty.

Low’s body was recovered almost four years after her October 2010 disappearance. Police said Torgerson led them to the shallow grave in the Wabeno area where her body was buried in September.

Police had considered Torgerson a person of interest early on in the investigation, they said. Authorities said they believe Torgerson went to Low’s apartment to get cocaine, and that Low fought him and Torgerson killed her.

A message seeking comment was left with Kachinsky on Thursday morning. Torgerson is expected back in court at the end of next month.

Information from: WSAW-TV, http://www.wsaw.com