Tis' a sad story but it sounds like she was seeing another guy, he got p____d, got a gun, shot her, gets life in prison. I feel for the kid. The man had no self control but he'll learn some where he's going eh?

Rot. In. Hell.

He killed a girl I knew in school, and he did it in front of a child, HER child.

He needs to sit in that cell like the psychopath he is and stay away from any other female he might decide to kill because she finds out he's a creepy piece of garbage.

My heart still goes out to her family and closest friends, and I hope they're all doing well.

And honestly, he doesn't deserve the death penalty, that fate would be too kind and easy for him. Let him rot.

dub: My bet is he was alittle off his rocker already but if say smoking pot won't put you in a deeper depressed feeling or a "feel sorry for me" state i'd say your wrong. Pot may be fine for some but just like drinking it can have a diff affect on people, i've seen it work both ways on people.

freeradical: If the kids knew or not they still are the VICTIMS, ... if you can't see that you are either playing blind or just stupid. Now they could be without parents or could be sent to foster care, and you have no idea what was kept in the house they lived in, most likely the money was kept there .... but that's a diff blog.

bucks- I second that !
Pronoun- I thought it was the TV that made him do it?

justaguy
the only reason kids were involved was because their parents were the ones who were busted.
All illegal activity as far as growing and processing was done in an entirely different house. The kids probably had no idea their parents grew plants in another basement.

dub190: Bleeding heart liberals...darn they must be the majority who let all of this happen. And those "tough" Conservatives, who often are Christians...so
"strong" and "forgiving".

When an angry, out-of-control loser smokes pot, he or she is still an angry, out-of-control loser. While pot is not associated with causing violence or aggression, neither it is known for reducing violence or aggression.
I bet this out-of-control loser had coffee that morning, maybe the caffeine put him over the edge?

The pot didn't make him do it - it was a lie he told in a feeble attempt to gain sympathy from folks that are ignorant to the fact that pot is far less dangerous than alcohal.

Good point, truecitizen.

I was going to jump in on the "kid" also, but you are doing a fine job of it already folks!

I have always wanted to comment on how professional I think it was for the officer who is giving comfort to the woman in that photo. Officers had to deal with the chase, crime scene, and other tangible high maintenace issues that day. They did a great job! I can't imagine losing someone in my family like that...

The kid is over in the other blog crying over the 159 pot plants found ... you know the victimless crime? even tho kids were involved in that story.

Hmmmm........no snarky comment or lecture by "the kid" on how pot does not hurt anyone?????

I agree with most. What he did was a despicable act. I mean shoot someone because they rejected you IN FRONT OF THEIR CHILD!!!??? We, as tax payers, should not have to pay for people who commit this caliber of a crime to continue to live only to die in a cell. I have worked in a prison so I know first hand that it is not easy or all fun and games (yes you have three free meals, free health care, and a bed) but there is more that goes on and you only see it if you are inside those walls. Knowing that I still don't think prison is a worthy punishment for him-it may be bad but nothing compared to what her son will have to go through or what he will have to deal with for the rest of his life. Sorry for the harshness but I have no sympathy for this guy. Millions of people get rejected and they don't pull out a gun and shoot someone.

Twas the pot that made him do it!

Ever watch "Lockdown"? Prison doesn't look like fun and games to me.

OkieFed, the point of prison is to *lock someone up*. The brutal punishment you crave would seem to violate the Eighth Amendment to the United States Constitution, itself mirroring the English Bill of Rights of 1689. The ACLU was not founded until 1920, so attributing this concept to them must involve time travel.

OkieFed: Really? Been there lately?

Hicke has not been sentenced, thus he cannot have received a sentence of "mandatory life".

Hey, another D.A. success story. Parole?? What is there to discuss, he killed the girl in cold blood, what the hell is the D.A. thinking. He does not seem to remorseful Mr. D.A,. First sign of a socialpath. Mandatory life sentence is actually what it means, Mandatory life. NO PAROLE.

This boy should be eligible for parole just as soon as he completes his life sentence.

Nice do and prison pallor, in the photo, he should never again see the light of day.

I hope the little guy is able to sort this out somehow, otherwise he's bound for a hard life.

Alright, I can't help this. I am not highly educated, but when a man is given a sentence of "mandatory life sentence", how on earth does he qualify for parole. This is the problem with our government and legal system. Truth in sentencing. It rather an oxymoron. If you want truth in sentencing. Give the dirt bag 60 years and let him mark his calendar. If one is incarcerated, they are expected to be "good". So early release for "good behavior" is ridiculous. This is something that will definitely change when we get true lawmakers in office and not greedy, selfish, pension builders. More intent on taking care of themselves and their buddies than the constituents the serve.

"Love thy neighbor as thyself: Do not to others what thou wouldn't not wish be done to thyself: Forgive injuries. Forgive thy enemy, be reconciled to him, give him assistance, invoke God in his behalf."

Confucius
BC 551-479, Chinese Ethical Teacher, Philosopher

personally i think life in prison is to good for him and he should be take out and done the same way he did to Erica M. Ostenson remember her name she may be gone but will never be forgotten..... the law sees fit to take a year to sentence this man and he receives his sentencing the day b4 her birthday how messed up is that crap the law should work faster than that no matter what the excuse is

i am disgusted looking at his picture when i click on this website

My heart goes out to the little boy who has to grow up with this memory. How dare any defense attorney argue for a chance at parole after what this man has done. If he does this after a "hearbreak", I can't image what he'd do if someone really made him mad. Lock him up for life and throw away the keys.

if he gets life why drop other charges just put
him in general population and let the other
inmates take care of him like dallmer and save
the tax payers money

Mentor... you're right... it was a closed case before the police change got to Beloit! Not only did he kill someone (which is horrible enough), but he did it in front of Erica's child... what was he, 4 or 5?

I'm surprised the comments on this were allowed. I'm not saying it's good or bad, but I'm sure it'll get nasty by day's end.....

Again, this seems like the most open and shut case there could ever be. There was no reason for the state to plea bargain this down at all. They should have had the trial and then there would have been no need to drop any charges that might have kept him in prison longer.

Wisconsin is great because it doesn't have a death penalty. Janesvillian is correct with the numbers.
It costs more to litigate then pay for prisoner care.
People who are ready to kill others would be killers.
Lock'em up, make their life hell, (prison isn't fun), and then let them go to another after-life hell.

janesvillean,are your numbers based on litigation from someone fighting the conviction? What are the costs for someone that pleads guilty?

It is, again, sad that someone supposedly standing up for the victim would choose to do it by showing their own disregard for human life.
.
In any event, every state that has studied the issue has found the costs of the death penalty to be many times higher than life imprisonment. California spends more than $100 million annually for its death row prisoners and their case litigation, but has executed only 13 people since 1976.

I think they need to have the death penalty in Wisconsin. There is no reason taxpayers' money should wasted to keep this guy alive, when he obviously has no regard for human life.

Why two clicks then a bang? What are you using a Colt revolver?