Insanity plea entered for teen charged in ax killing

Richard Wilson

Waukesha - A plea of not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect was entered Monday on behalf of the Fox Point teenager accused of killing his grandfather in May with an ax.

Richard B. Wilson, 17, of Fox Point is charged with first-degree intentional homicide in the May 8 slaying of Ronald Siepmann, 78.

Siepmann, a real estate developer, was found dead in a shed on the property of his Beaver Lake home in the Town of Merton.

Wilson, in Waukesha County Circuit Court for a hearing Monday, waived his right to a preliminary hearing and his attorney, Michael Steinle, entered the not guilty plea for him.

Waukesha County Circuit Judge William Domina ordered a competency examination of Wilson in connection with the criminal insanity defense, and that report is expected to be reviewed at Wilson's next court appearance Nov. 17.

Wilson faces life in prison if convicted in the killing. However, if Wilson's attorney can prove that Wilson had a mental disease or defect at the time of the slaying, he would receive treatment in a secure state mental health institution rather than being sent to prison.

Wilson's mother told authorities investigating the homicide that Wilson was diagnosed in November with schizophrenia and had stopped taking his medication, according to the criminal complaint filed in the case.

In June, Wilson was declared incompetent to face the charge that he killed Siepmann and was ordered committed to the Mendota Mental Health Institute in Madison for treatment. A report from a court-appointed psychologist who examined Wilson after the killing stated that Wilson has an active psychotic condition but that he was likely to regain competency with treatment.

A more recent evaluation of Wilson concluded that he now has the substantial mental capacity to understand the proceedings against him and assist with his defense.

As a result, Domina on Aug. 31 determined Wilson was competent to stand trial and restarted the criminal proceedings against Wilson.