Zimmerman to avoid jury trial
By Hub City Times staff
MARSHFIELD – A plea hearing has been scheduled for an Owen man in connection with a double homicide that occurred Jan. 20 in the city of Abbotsford.
Tyler Zimmerman, 27, was charged with two counts of first degree intentional homicide, one count of attempted first degree intentional homicide, and three counts of first degree recklessly endangering safety, in the death of his fiancé, 21-year-old Cierra Hardrath, and 25-year-old Duane Lopez, Jr., at a home in Abbotsford.
Also shot in the incidence was 18-year-old Megan Dupee. Dupee was transported to the Marshfield Medical Center with non life-threatening gunshot wounds.
Court documents indicate Zimmerman used an iPad app to locate Hardrath at that address, and suspected her of cheating on him. Lopez answered the door. Zimmerman asked to speak with Hardrath, and Lopez denied knowing her, but let Zimmerman enter the house after Zimmerman explained that Hardrath’s vehicle was parked outside.
Once inside the home, Zimmerman discovered Hardrath asleep alone in one of the bedrooms. After confronting Hardrath with suspicions that she was cheating on him, Zimmerman pulled out a 40-caliber handgun and shot Hardrath, according to the criminal complaint.
After shooting Hardrath, Zimmerman also shot and killed Lopez, then shot and injured Dupee, who was Lopez’s fiancée.
Police arrested Zimmerman outside the home a short time later.
Zimmerman will avoid a jury trial, with a plea hearing scheduled for Dec. 19 in Marathon County Court. He is being held in the Marathon County Jail on a $1 million bond.
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