Koepp appeal denied
By STAN MILAM - Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2012
MADISON -- The Wisconsin Supreme Court on Tuesday announced it would not hear the appeal of James Clifford Koepp.
Appeals court denies Koepp appeal
- Friday, May 11, 2012
A state appeals court Thursday upheld James Koepp's three intentional homicide convictions, dismissing his contention that someone else murdered Danyetta Lentz and her two children in January 2007.
Koepp to pay for funerals
By TED SULLIVAN - Tuesday, May 25, 2010
JANESVILLE -- At his expected wage of 30 cents an hour, triple homicide convict James Koepp will have to work full time in prison for nearly 10 years to pay back funeral costs for his victims.
‘Three lifes for three lives’
By TED SULLIVAN - Wednesday, April 28, 2010
JANESVILLE --
James Koepp, 51, was sentenced in Rock County Court on Tuesday to three consecutive life sentences without parole in the January 2007 stabbings and strangulations of Danyetta Lentz and her teenage children, Nicole and Scott.
Juror gives inside view of triple homicide deliberations
By TED SULLIVAN - Thursday, Feb. 4, 2010
JANESVILLE -- DNA evidence made it easy to convict James Koepp of triple homicide, but one juror initially believed he was not guilty, a juror said Wednesday.
Jurors became ‘family’ during triple homicide trial
By TED SULLIVAN - Thursday, Feb. 4, 2010
JANESVILLE -- Nine men and seven women, including four alternates, were selected in Kenosha County. They remained under 24-hour security, became close friends and even planned a juror reunion after their service.
Koepp found guilty of three murder charges
By TED SULLIVAN - Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2010
JANESVILLE --
Russell Lucht cried, trembled and bowed his head Tuesday after the guilty verdicts were read in the Rock County courtroom.
Koepp found guilty of three murder charges
By TED SULLIVAN - Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2010
JANESVILLE -- Jurors found James Koepp guilty of three charges of first-degree intentional homicide Tuesday night after deliberating for about 90 minutes.
Cellmate testimony center of triple homicide trial
By TED SULLIVAN - Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2010
JANESVILLE -- Defense attorneys for James Koepp called their own jailhouse snitch as a witness Monday in attempt to discredit one of Koepp’s cellmates who testified earlier for the prosecution.
Defense presents its case in Koepp trial
By TED SULLIVAN - Sunday, Jan. 31, 2010
JANESVILLE -- James Koepp’s attorneys want jurors to believe an unknown robber killed Danyetta Lentz and her teenage children, Nicole and Scott, perhaps to steal prescription drugs. Their theory began to play out in court Saturday, when witnesses began testifying about evidence they believe points to another killer.
DNA evidence highlights testimony
By TED SULLIVAN - Saturday, Jan. 30, 2010
JANESVILLE -- Jurors who will decide the fate of murder suspect James Koepp heard hours of DNA testimony Friday.
Prosecution offers motive for triple homicide
By TED SULLIVAN - Friday, Jan. 29, 2010
JANESVILLE --
For the first time in the Janesville triple homicide trial, the prosecution offered a motive for the Lentz family slayings.
Robbery theory debated
By TED SULLIVAN - Thursday, Jan. 28, 2010
JANESVILLE --
While the defense has argued an unknown robber murdered three Janesville residents, prosecutors spent part of Wednesday poking holes in that theory.
Jurors hear two stories of a triple murder
By FRANK SCHULTZ - Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2010
JANESVILLE --
One story tells how James Koepp brutally murdered three people three years ago in a home just south of Janesville. The other story says Koepp didn’t do it—somebody else did.
Opening arguments complete in triple murder trial
By GAZETTE STAFF - Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2010
JANESVILLE -- Opening arguments in the James Koepp murder trial have been completed.
Lawyers hint at strategy
By FRANK SCHULTZ - Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2010
JANESVILLE --
Attorneys selecting jurors for a Rock County triple-murder trial on Monday got a head start on making their cases.
Trial to begin three years after triple homicide
By TED SULLIVAN - Sunday, Jan. 24, 2010
JANESVILLE --
Koepp’s trial is scheduled to last two weeks.
Lawyers gear up for triple-murder trial
By FRANK SCHULTZ - Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2010
JANESVILLE --
Lawyers for the prosecution and defense continue to jockey for advantage on the eve of the long-awaited trial of James C. Koepp.
Triple homicide case relies on DNA evidence
By TED SULLIVAN - Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2009
JANESVILLE --
When the Janesville triple homicide trial begins in January, DNA will play a key role.
Attorneys argue about defense expert in triple homicide case
By TED SULLIVAN - Thursday, Dec. 3, 2009
JANESVILLE --
Attorneys in the Janesville triple homicide case are squabbling over the testimony of a DNA expert the defense wants to call at trial.
Koepp jurors may come from Racine County
By TED SULLIVAN - Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2009
JANESVILLE --
Jurors in the Janesville triple homicide trial will likely be selected from Racine County, officials said Monday.
Memorial dinner to benefit Janesville area scouts
By SHELLY BIRKELO - Monday, Oct. 19, 2009
JANESVILLE -- If you love Italian food and all its trimmings, you won’t want to miss the second annual Scott Lentz memorial all-you-can-eat spaghetti dinner.
Triple homicide suspect granted change of venue
By TED SULLIVAN - Thursday, June 11, 2009
JANESVILLE -- Janesville's triple homicide suspect will be tried before jurors from outside Rock County.
Possible October trial set for triple murder case
By GINA DUWE - Thursday, April 23, 2009
JANESVILLE --
A two-week trial in October is set for accused triple-murderer James Koepp, though it could be delayed until January depending on when the defense can submit expert analysis.
Man accused of three Janesville homicides appears in court
By BETH WHEELOCK - Wednesday, April 22, 2009
A trial date is still uncertain for 50-year-old James Koepp.
Judge denies motion to dismiss triple homicide case
By TED SULLIVAN - Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2008
JANESVILLE -- Janesville’s triple homicide suspect believes evidence proving his innocence was lost when the crime scene was destroyed nine months after the killings.
Evidence collection, murder scene focus of Koepp hearing
By TED SULLIVAN - Thursday, Nov. 13, 2008
JANESVILLE --
After three people were found murdered, investigators secured the crime scene and began collecting evidence.
Koepp seeks to have charges dismissed
By TED SULLIVAN - Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2008
JANESVILLE --
James Koepp wants a triple-homicide case against him dismissed, claiming evidence from the scene was destroyed when the trailer home was recycled for scrap metal more than a year after the murders.
Motion hearing continues Wednesday for triple homicide case
By BETH WHEELOCK - Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2008
The defense argues evidence proving James Koepp's innocence could have been destroyed.
Motion hearings this week for Janesville triple homicide
By BETH WHEELOCK - Monday, Nov. 10, 2008
Rock County Judge Alan Bates previously denied motions to dismiss.
Motions denied in triple-homicide case
By FRANK SCHULTZ - Friday, Sept. 5, 2008
JANESVILLE --
James Koepp still is headed for trial in a January 2007 triple-homicide case. But when the trial will start is anyone’s guess.
Motion hearing set in Koepp case
By MIKE DUPRE' - Tuesday, July 29, 2008
JANESVILLE -- A judge this morning scheduled a Sept. 4 hearing to decide if the three murder charges against James C. Koepp should be dismissed.
Koepp enters not guilty plea
By FRANK SCHULTZ - Tuesday, May 20, 2008
JANESVILLE --
Attorneys for triple-murder suspect James C. Koepp are expected to again ask that the charges against their client be dismissed.
Triple homicide suspect pleads not guilty
By BETH WHEELOCK - Monday, May 19, 2008
49-year-old James Koepp appeared telephonically at his arraignment.
Koepp hearing postponed to Monday
By GAZETTE STAFF - Thursday, May 15, 2008
JANESVILLE -- The arraignment hearing for James C. Koepp, a defendant in a triple homicide, was postponed Wednesday afternoon to Monday afternoon.
Evidence sufficient to try Koepp in murders
By MIKE DUPRE' - Wednesday, April 16, 2008
JANESVILLE --
James C. Koepp will stand trial for the January 2007 murders of Danyetta Lentz and her two teenage children.
Evidence against Koepp to be heard April 15
- Friday, Feb. 29, 2008
JANESVILLE -- A preliminary hearing date of April 15 was scheduled Thursday afternoon for James C. Koepp.
Koepp faces large bond in murder case
By FRANK SCHULTZ - Friday, Feb. 1, 2008
JANESVILLE --
In the unlikely event that James C. Koepp wins an appeal on a previous conviction, he would have to put up a cash bond of $750,000 in order to get out of custody.
Charges bring relief
By CATHERINE IDZERDA - Saturday, Jan. 12, 2008
JANESVILLE --
If Danyetta Lentz were still alive, she probably would have spent Friday afternoon with her friends, talking about everything and nothing at all.
Koepp charged in triple murder
By MIKE DUPRE' - Friday, Jan. 11, 2008
JANESVILLE --
A year to the day after the worst crime in Rock County history, the sole suspect, James C. Koepp, was charged with the murders.
Complaint oulines case against Koepp
By MIKE DUPRE' - Friday, Jan. 11, 2008
JANESVILLE -- The criminal complaint charging James C. Koepp with three counts of murder does not offer a motive to why prosecutors think he killed three people.
Murder case on slow pace
By MIKE DUPRE' - Sunday, Nov. 4, 2007
Prosecution of the worst murder case in Rock County history might hinge on analysis of potential evidence at an East Coast lab.
Scene of murder to be removed
By SHELLY BIRKELO - Friday, Aug. 17, 2007
The scene of a triple homicide is being prepared for destruction, allowing the Danyetta Lentz family to move forward with their grieving.
Six months on, suspect's wife doesn't think he killed Lentzes
By MIKE DUPRE' - Thursday, July 12, 2007
Nancy Koepp is divorcing her husband of seven years, James C. Koepp, this afternoon. The reason, Nancy told The Janesville Gazette, is because he was having an affair with their neighbor, Danyetta Lentz.
Evidence still lacking in Lentz case
By MIKE DUPRE' - Thursday, June 14, 2007
Five days after the three members of the Lentz family were murdered in their mobile home in January, Rock County sheriff's investigators thought they had the killer.
Murder charges for Koepp depend on evidence analysis
By MIKE DUPRE' - Thursday, April 12, 2007
Rock County District Attorney David O'Leary is waiting for the State Crime Laboratory in Madison to analyze all the evidence in a triple homicide before deciding whether to file charges against a man described as the crime's sole suspect.
Koepp pleads guilty to traffic charges
By MIKE DUPRE' - Friday, March 30, 2007
James C. Koepp says he wasn't himself the night he was supposed to be interviewed about a triple homicide but instead led Rock County sheriff's deputies on a chase.
Koepp's wife says he had affair with slain woman
By GAZETTE STAFF AND ASSOCIATED PRESS - Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Murder suspect James C. Koepp's wife, Nancy, thinks her husband was having an affair with murder victim Danyetta Lentz.
It's been weeks since the Lentz family was murdered, but no one has been charged
By MIKE DUPRE' - Saturday, March 17, 2007
Danyetta Lentz and her teenage children, Nicole and Scott, were found murdered in their mobile home nine weeks ago.
Analysis leaves Koepp as lone suspect
By MIKE DUPRE' - Tuesday, March 6, 2007
DNA analysis is complete on several items of evidence gathered in a triple murder, and the spotlight of suspicion remains focused on James C. Koepp alone.
Victim's neighbors give DNA
By MIKE DUPRE' - Friday, Feb. 23, 2007
JANESVILLE -- "Routine part of the investigation" is how Cmdr. Tom Gehl this morning described the recent gathering of DNA samples from men in Janesville Terrace.
Murder suspect's records stay open
By MIKE DUPRE' - Friday, Feb. 23, 2007
James C. Koepp's probation and parole records will remain open for public scrutiny.
Lawyers object to released files
By STACY VOGEL - Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2007
Attorneys for James Koepp want a judge to order the state Department of Corrections to stop releasing information such as that used in a Janesville Gazette article Sunday.
Murder suspect has long felt like 'non-citizen'
By ANN MARIE AMES - Sunday, Feb. 11, 2007
Before Jim Koepp was the only suspect in Janesville's triple murder, he spent nearly 20 years in prison or on parole.
Murder suspect enters plea in traffic case
By MIKE DUPRE' - Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2007
Murder suspect James C. Koepp gave a one-word answer-"Yes"-when asked Tuesday if he understood the traffic charges against him.
Sheriff is satisfied despite no lab results
By MIKE DUPRE' - Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2007
Sheriff Bob Spoden is not upset with the State Crime Laboratory even though two weeks have gone by since the arrest of James C. Koepp on suspicion of three murders and the lab still has not released results of its analysis of evidence gathered.
Authorities try to build murder case that doesn't rely on DNA evidence
By MIKE DUPRE' - Friday, Jan. 26, 2007
Rock County sheriff's investigators are trying to build a case against James C. Koepp, suspect in a triple homicide, that will convict him even if no DNA evidence is found, Sheriff Bob Spoden said Thursday.
Homicide victim, suspect apparently had relationship
By MIKE DUPRE' - Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2007
Murder victim Danyetta Lentz and suspect James Koepp had a personal relationship, perhaps an affair, a reading of court documents filed this morning indicates.
About 400 attend Lentzes' funeral
By MIKE DUPRE' - Sunday, Jan. 21, 2007
Their black silhouettes stark against the white snow, three hearses stood sentinel Saturday outside First Lutheran Church, silent testament to the tragedy that brought them there.
DA won't file murder charges against Koepp yet
By MIKE DUPRE' - Saturday, Jan. 20, 2007
An apparently frustrated Rock County District Attorney David O'Leary gave more "no comments" than curt answers when swarmed by reporters after the media learned Friday that O'Leary decided to not yet file multiple murder charges against James C. Koepp.
Neighbors unaware suspect was sex offender
By ANN MARIE AMES - Friday, Jan. 19, 2007
James Koepp was a welcome guest in many of his neighbors' homes. But would neighbors have been as trusting if they'd known Koepp was a registered sex offender with a sexually violent history?
Search warrant seems to focus on knives, shears
By MIKE DUPRE' - Friday, Jan. 19, 2007
The victims of a triple homicide last week apparently were stabbed, based on a list of evidence taken from their home and that of murder suspect James C. Koepp.
Residents express relief, anger
By STACY VOGEL - Thursday, Jan. 18, 2007
Customers seeking coffee and eggs had one topic of conversation this morning at Kadee's Kafe.
Crime, alcohol taint murder suspect's past
By GAZETTE STAFF - Thursday, Jan. 18, 2007
James Koepp admitted to Janesville police in 2002-nine years after he was convicted of raping a woman in Monona-that he had been breaking into random houses while drunk.
Arrest shocks, upsets residents of mobile home community
By ANN MARIE AMES - Thursday, Jan. 18, 2007
While detectives combed a bloody trailer Friday afternoon looking for clues in a triple killing, James C. Koepp stood 100 yards away, sharing a cigarette with his neighbors and talking about the murders.
Koepp nabbed after drunken driving chase
By MIKE DUPRE' - Thursday, Jan. 18, 2007
James C. Koepp was supposed to be talking to Rock County detectives as a "person of interest" Tuesday night in the investigation of a triple homicide discovered Friday.
Suspect arrested in triple homicide
By GAZETTE STAFF - Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2007
A suspect is in custody in the case of the triple slaying of a local family.
DNA evidence possibly found at murder scene
By MIKE DUPRE' AND FRANK SCHULTZ - Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2007
Rock County investigators think they might have DNA evidence from the triple homicide discovered Friday morning just south of Janesville.
Residents feel less safe after killings
By STACY VOGEL - Monday, Jan. 15, 2007
Shaun Budde spent the weekend a little more aware of his surroundings. "I look around, you know, to see who's behind me," he said.
Work just beginning on murder case
By STACY VOGEL - Saturday, Jan. 13, 2007
All was quiet at the crime scene at the Janesville Terrace mobile home park Saturday afternoon.
Sheriff pledges deep investigation into triple murder
By MIKE DUPRE' - Saturday, Jan. 13, 2007
JANESVILLE -- Investigators will work around the clock until they arrest the person or persons responsible for the second triple homicide in Rock County history, Sheriff Bob Spoden said Friday evening.
Friends, neighbors fondly recall slain family
By GAZETTE STAFF - Saturday, Jan. 13, 2007
Angela Puckett remembered Friday how the Pucketts and the Lentzes went fishing last summer.
Family found dead in mobile home
By GAZETTE STAFF - Friday, Jan. 12, 2007
JANESVILLE -- Three bodies were found in a mobile home this morning just south of Janesville, and Sheriff Bob Spoden confirmed three suspicious deaths.
