Monday, September 22, 2014

Body of missing Wisconsin woman found nearly four years after her murder: police



The recovery of 22-year-old Stephanie Low's remains comes after Kristopher (Spider) Torgerson led detectives to a national park last week where he revealed her shallow grave, said police. Torgerson allegedly stabbed Low to death during a drug deal.
BY Nina Golgowski
NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
A body believed to belong to 22-year-old Stephanie Low who disappeared in October 2010 has been recovered in a national forest, police said Monday. Facebook A body believed to belong to 22-year-old Stephanie Low who disappeared in October 2010 has been recovered in a national forest, police said Monday.
The body of a missing 22-year-old woman who mysteriously vanished from her Wisconsin apartment nearly four years ago has been found, authorities said.
Wausau Police announced the recovery of Stephanie Low's remains at an emotional press conference Monday before the young victim's friends and family.
Low's recovery comes after a suspect in the case, Kristopher (Spider) Torgerson, led detectives to a national park last week where he revealed her shallow grave, said police.
"I would not say that there was a confession. He was willing to show us where the body was," said Wausau Police Chief Jeff Hardel of Torgerson.
A search for the 22-year-old began on Oct. 10, 2010 when police called to her home reported finding bedding missing, a strong odor of bleach and drops of blood near her bed.

Authorities also said they found crack cocaine in a safe hidden in the apartment. They determined, from the evidence gathered, that Low and her boyfriend, Eric Maholmes, had been dealing drugs prior to her murder.
Maholmes was later arrested for drug possession with intent to deliver and sentenced to six and a half years behind bars in 2011, WAOW reported.
Torgerson, who was allegedly one of Low's customers, allegedly stabbed her in the neck after she "ripped him off as he needed crack cocaine," said Hardel.
Kristopher Torgerson, pictured, allegedly led detectives to her grave last week. Torgerson, who has long been a suspect in Low's murder, allegedly killed her during a drug deal. Marathon County Sheriff's Office Enlarge
A search for the 22-year-old began on Oct. 10, 2010 when police called to her home reported finding bedding missing, a strong odor of bleach and drops of blood near her bed. Facebook Enlarge
Kristopher Torgerson, left, allegedly led detectives to Low's grave last week. Torgerson, who has long been a suspect in Low's murder, allegedly killed her during a drug deal.
He obtained help in burying her body in the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest by a man who later confessed to helping remove her body from her apartment on the night she was killed, he said.
That man, later located by police in Long Beach, Calif. confessed to the dirty deed, as well as "watching Torgerson bury her body," said Hardel.
From mid May 2013 to the fall, detectives searched the area 15 to 20 times to locate the grave site.
It wasn't until they confronted Torgerson — who was already behind bars on other charges — with video of others accusing him of having confessed to the murder that he agreed to take them to the exact site.
Low's body was exhumed Saturday morning, approximately 1 1/2-feet below the earth's surface, said Hardel.
The State Attorney General is now working to file charges against Torgerson in Low's death.

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