GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Two former investigators deny allegations they fabricated evidence, coerced a false confession and concealed evidence which led to the convictions of brothers Robert and David Bintz for the 1987 murder of Sandra Lison — a crime they were later exonerated of.
David and Robert Bintz were convicted in separate trials in 2000 and sentenced to life in prison. Their convictions were later vacated after advances in DNA testing identified another man as the source of biological evidence recovered from the crime scene, and prosecutors agreed they should be released. In 2025, the Wisconsin Claims Board awarded each brother the state’s maximum wrongful conviction payment of $25,000.
In July, the brothers filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against two investigators in the case: former state Division of Criminal Investigation Special Agent Richard Luell, and former Green Bay police detective Robert Haglund. The city of Green Bay is also a defendant.
In separate filings this week, Luell and Haglund denied any wrongdoing, and ask for the case to be dismissed.
Among the specific responses:
- From Luell: “The inculpatory statements made by David were not coerced or involuntary.”
- From Luell: “…there was no coercion or fabrication of evidence by the State Defendant.”
- From Haglund: “Defendants deny that any statement or report was fabricated.”
- From Haglund: “admit that third-party witnesses testified at David’s trial and implicated him. Defendants deny that Haglund knew their testimony was false and otherwise deny the allegations
A scheduling conference is planned for Sept. 9.
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