Man Killed 4 People, Himself In Closs Copycat Killings: Sheriff

LAKE HALLIE, WI — Authorities in Chippewa Falls say a man believed to have killed four people and wounded two others before killing himself may have been trying to copy the Jayme Closs abduction last year.

Chippewa County Sheriff Jim Kowalczyk during a news conference said Richie German, 33, is responsible for the shooting deaths of Laile Vang, 24, as well as his mother Bridget German, 66; brother Douglas German, 32; and nephew Calvin Harris, 8.

Police believe German may have killed his family a day before killing Vang and himself during an attempted abduction.

During the press conference, Kowalczyk said German may have been attempting a shooting and abduction similar to that of Jake Patterson in the Jayme Closs case. The sheriff noted that investigators searched German's car, only to find handcuffs and a loaded gun clip among other items. Investigators found that car still running outside the Lake Hallie home where he and Vang were found dead, according to the Wisconsin State Journal.

Sheriff's officials said they responded to a report of shots fired at about 10:30 p.m. Sunday at the home in Lake Hallie. Investigators say German fired one shotgun round through the door of the home — another similarity to the Closs case. Prior to killing mother Denise Closs and abducting daughter Jayme, Patterson had fired a shotgun through the front door of the family's home, killing father James Closs.

According to an ABC-TV report, police who entered the Lake Hallie home found German and Laile Vang both dead of gunshot wounds. Two other people who survived the shooting were found with gunshot wounds.

When investigators went to German's house, they found that the shooter's three family members — mother Bridget German, brother Douglas German and nephew Calvin Harris — had been shot dead.

The sheriff said investigators also learned German had sent text messages containing sexual content to Laile Vang just two days before the shooting. Investigators say they have no evidence the two knew each other, or ever met.

Search for answers continues

The sheriff also said his investigators have a lot of work ahead of them to determine German's motive.

"We start our investigation from square one. Why did this happen? What was the motive? We are working on that question," he said. "We are at a loss as to where he's been hanging his hat. What was his intentions? Was his intention to take this young gal similar to what happened in Barron County. And if so, where are his belongings?"

Related Reading

Man Who Abducted Jayme Closs Sentenced To Life In Prison

Full Jayme Closs 911 Call Released: Listen Here

The sheriff said German had lived with his mother since around 2004. In 2006, deputies responded to the German family home in response to a domestic dispute that took place. He was arrested for endangering safety for use of a firearm, he said.

Kowalczyk said deputies are going to be reaching out to the public to learn more.

"Family members are telling us that Richie is a loner, has no friends. If anybody has had contact with Richie German over the last week or month, please contact the sheriff's department," Kowalczyk said.