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Plea hearing scheduled in murder case

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Jeffery Newberg

ELKHORN — A Linn Township man might change his plea to a murder charge stemming from the stabbing death of his mother.

Jeffrey Newberg, 45, is scheduled to be in Walworth County Court at 8:30 a.m. Friday, Oct. 24, for a plea hearing, according to court records.

Newberg on July 14 pleaded not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect to the charge of first-degree intentional homicide.

Walworth County District Attorney Phil Koss declined to comment on whether a plea agreement has been reached in the case. Newberg’s attorney, Jeffrey R. Krebs, deputy first assistant state public defender, could not be reached for comment.

According to the criminal complaint, police went to the home Newberg shared with his mother, Alice Newberg, 70, at N1000 Highway 120 in Linn Township at 11 a.m. May 23.

Police saw Jeffrey walking out of the garage with blood on his head and clothes, and inside the garage investigators found Alice dead, according to the criminal complaint.

An autopsy report later revealed that Alice had been stabbed multiple times in the back of her body.

A white washcloth with red stains was found in the kitchen, according to the criminal complaint, and a broken knife with red stains was in the garbage can.

After Jeffrey was arrested, he told investigators he had screwed up. He asked two investigators to shoot him in the head, according to the criminal complaint.

After pleading not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect, Jeffrey was ordered to undergo a psychological evaluation. He claimed he was suffering from mental disease or defect at the time of the murder but was competent to stand trial.

Jeffrey remains in jail on $100,000 cash bail. He faces up to life in prison.