Iron River Man Admits to Killing Parents With Butcher Knife
Tuesday, September 30, 2014
By:
Julia Russell
Photojournalist:
Graham Hakala
FOX 21 News, KQDS-DT
Regions:
- Northwestern WI
Topics:
- Crime
- Courts
http://www.fox21online.com/sites/default/files/Iron%20River%20Man%20Plea%20093014.mp4
WASHBURN - The Iron River man accused of killing his mother and father with a butcher knife has switched his plea to guilty.
Tuesday afternoon, 45 year old Jim Crain Junior appeared in court to accept a plea agreement with the state of Wisconsin.
Just a few months ago, the community of Iron River was shaken up after news that Jim and Eunice Crain were killed in their own home, and the prime suspect was their son, Jim.
As Crain took a guilty plea to the double-homicide, much of the Iron River community feels as if justice has been served.
“Do you believe the state had a pretty good chance at convincing the jury you'd be guilty of these offenses?" asked Bayfield County Judge John Anderson in court Tuesday afternoon. "Yes sir,” Crain replied. “I didn't want to put my family through it."
Crain chose to give up his right to a trial and plead guilty to two counts of second degree intentional homicide for the murder of his parents.
On December 7, 2013 police say they found the Crains in a pool of blood, and when officers went to their son he lunged for the bloody knife and resisted arrest.
Instead of being taken into custody, Crain was taken to St. Luke's hospital in Duluth for self-inflicted knife wounds, and was under an induced coma for a few days.
While in a coma, Crain was charged with two counts of first degree intentional homicide, two counts of battery to law enforcement officers, and failure to comply with an officer.
The state's plea agreement switched the homicide charges from first degree to second and recommended 15-20 years per count plus 20 years of close supervision."Mr. Crain is about 45 years old so that would put him in prison until he's about 75-85 years old, as well as under supervision for the rest of his life," explained Wisconsin Assistant Attorney General, Roy Korte.
State officials have been in touch with Crain's surviving siblings who live out of state.
Crain’s brother and sister tuned into the court room Tuesday afternoon via phone.
Korte says they are pleased with their brother’s choice to forego a trial, and accept the agreement.
"I don't think any of them relish the idea of having to come back here and sit through a trial involving the death of their parents," Korte explained.
Family friend and landlord Eric Olson keeps a picture of his dear friends Jim and Eunice posted on the bar at their favorite hangout."I think that we all knew that that was coming,” said Olson. “I don't think that it's a big surprise."
Olson said Crain was known to have anger issues, but he never expected a double-murder to happen in his hometown. "Punishment should fit the crime and this was a very horrendous crime," said Olson.
He says Crain's guilty plea brings the entire community one step closer to healing.
Since the murder, Crain has been diagnosed with a mental illness. He is receiving medication and treatment while in prison."I don't think he should ever get out of jail,” said Olson. “He should be in jail for the rest of his life."
Because Crain switched his plea to guilty, he continues to be held in the Bayfield County Jail without bond.
The coming weeks will involve a pre-sentencing investigation.
Sentencing is set for Dec. 2 which is just a few days before the one year anniversary of the murders.
