WISCONSIN RAPIDS, WI (WSAU) — The man accused of killing Benny Scruggs in his Wisconsin Rapids trailer in 1985 has entered a not guilty plea to one count of first-degree murder.
Donald Maier appeared in Wood County court on Tuesday for a motion hearing, where officials learned that he now has an attorney working on the case.
The 60-year-old is accused of killing Scruggs by breaking into his trailer home and stabbing him. Maier has been serving prison time on an unrelated stalking charge, but according to some of his fellow inmates at the Racine Correctional Institute, he’s admitted to them that he committed the crime and that he had been having an affair with Scruggs’ wife.
Maier has also withdrawn his request for a speedy trial, according to court records. A status conference has been set for April 17th, but no trial dates have been scheduled. He’s being held in the Wisconsin Resource Center on a $100,000 bond.
