WI Grandmother Poisoned Over Family Farm Inheritance: Jury

IOWA COUNTY, WI — Two men were both found guilty in Wisconsin on Tuesday of fatally poisoning their mother/grandmother over the inheritance of the family farm.

An Iowa County jury convicted Aric L. Way, 51, of Glendale, and Philip G. Schmidt-Way, 28, of Colorado of first-degree intentional homicide in the death of their mother/grandmother in Dodgeville in July 2021.

"The convictions in this complex homicide case were possible because of the diligent work of those who investigated and prosecuted this case," said Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul in a statement.

"Thank you to everyone who helped hold the defendants accountable for this terrible crime."

On July 19, 2021, the grandmother was found deceased in her Dodgeville home. An autopsy determined that carbon monoxide poisoning was a contributing factor in her death.

According to the criminal complaint, the grandmother had recently agreed to sell the family farm, which Schmidt-Way was set to inherit when she died.

Way purchased products known to react together to create carbon monoxide and Mr. Schmidt-Way’s vehicle was seen on camera at the victim’s home on the night of her death, according to investigators.

There were no obvious sources to explain elevated levels of carbon monoxide in the home, authorities said.