Tracey Richter
An Omaha woman has been found guilty in a Sac County murder case.
Forty-five-year-old Tracey Richter was guilty of first-degree murder in the death nearly ten years ago of 20-year-old Dustin Wehde.
After over a week of testimony, closing arguments were made last Friday and the case went to the six-man, six-woman jury last Friday afternoon.
They deliberated for three hours before recessing for the weekend.
The jury reconvened at nine Monday morning and after about an hour-and-a-half of deliberations, announced they had reached their verdict.
The guilty verdict of first-degree murder means Richter faces a mandatory sentence of life in prison.
Sentencing was set for Monday, December fifth in Webster County District Court in Fort Dodge.
Wehde was killed on December 13th of 2001 in Richter’s home in Early.
Richter has claimed she was the victim of a home invasion and shot Wehde in self-defense.
Prosecutors said the home invasion was made up. Richter was charged with first-degree murder this summer after new evidence was discovered in the case.
After the verdict was announced, Richter’s attorney announced he plans to file a motion for a new trial.
Joel Hermann, KAYL, Storm Lake
