Murder of Julie Jensen

Murder of Julie Jensen
LocationPleasant Prairie, Wisconsin, U.S.
DateDecember 3, 1998; 25 years ago (1998-12-03)
Attack type
Murder, uxoricide
WeaponAntifreeze poisoning
VictimJulie Carol Jensen, aged 40
PerpetratorMark Jensen
MotiveInfidelity
TrialFirst trial in 2008, retrial in 2023
VerdictGuilty at both trials
ConvictionsFirst-degree intentional homicide
SentenceLife imprisonment without the possibility of parole
JudgeBruce Schroeder (2008)
Anthony Milisauskas (2023)

On December 3, 1998, Mark Jensen, an American man, murdered his wife, Julie Carol (née Griffin) Jensen in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin, by poisoning her with antifreeze. The case is notable for the eventual admission into evidence of a letter written by the deceased prior to her death expressing suspicion of her husband's intentions.

Julie Jensen investigated her husband, checked his planner, photographed a note, and documented her suspicions.[1] She gave the letter to a neighbor with instructions to hand it to police if anything should happen to her. She wrote that she would never commit suicide and that if she died, police should consider her husband a suspect. "I pray that I am wrong and nothing happens, but I am suspicious of Mark's suspicious behaviors and fear for my early demise."[2]

In 2008, Mark Jensen was convicted of first-degree intentional homicide and sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole,[3] a verdict which was overturned in 2015.[4] After multiple appeals, a second trial convicted Mark Jensen in February 2023.

  1. ^ Simon, Mallory (February 25, 2008). "Jury: Letter from grave was 'road map' to murderer". CNN.com/crime. CNN. Archived from the original on March 7, 2008.
  2. ^ Antlfinger, Carrie (January 7, 2008). "Wis. jury hears dead wife's letter". USA Today. Associated Press.
  3. ^ O'Neill, Anne. "Husband guilty of murder in 'letter from grave' case". cnn.com. CNN. Archived from the original on February 17, 2017. Retrieved May 25, 2017.
  4. ^ Bohr, Nick (September 10, 2015). "Man accused of poisoning wife with antifreeze wins appeal". wisn.com. ABC 12 WISN. Archived from the original on May 17, 2018. Retrieved May 25, 2017.