Seth Louis has been sentenced to life in prison for the murder of Tracy Maurer after sentencing Wednesday in Lincoln County Court. The 26 year old Rhinelander man will have the chance to petition for extended supervision when he reaches the age of 75, in 2057.
Maurer was found murdered in her Tomahawk home in April of 2007, and Louis pled guilty to the crime last October.
In court today, the Special Prosecutor Ralph Uttke said the violent nature of the murder, along with the amount of stab wounds, which numbered into the 70's, proved that Louis wanted Maurer dead, so Uttke recommended he not get a chance for extended supervision until he turns 70.
In the end, the judge agreed, sentencing Louis to life in prison, but not giving him the chance to petition for extended supervision until he turns 75.
Uttke believes that given all of the facts, the judge gave a fair sentence, saying, "It's not a surprising sentence given the very aggravated and vicious nature of this crime."
Tracy Maurer's family was in the courtroom, and her daughter says the family is as satisfied as they can be with the judge's decision, and she also believes that her mother would be happy with the sentence.
Now Seth Louis will be entered into the Wisconsin Prison System, and Maurer's daughter says the family can finally begin the healing process.
The case is not completely over though, as the two women accused of helping Louis, Katie Decker and Heather Ward, still have upcoming court dates, with Decker scheduled to appear at the end of the month.
