OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – A man accused of killing his parents in their Town of Wolf River home pleaded not guilty by reason of mental disease on Thursday.
Erik Metzig faces two counts of first-degree intentional homicide for the March 18 deaths of David and Jan Metzig.
As a result of the so-called insanity plea, a psychiatric evaluation was ordered. The case returns to court Nov. 6.
If the case goes to trial with the not guilty by reason of mental disease plea, two phases of trial would be held. The first phase would determine Metzig’s guilt or innocence. If convicted, the same jury would then be asked to determine if he suffered from a mental disease or defect at the time of the murders which would have prevented him from conforming actions to the law; if he knew right from wrong. If the jury determines he did suffer from a mental disease, Metzig would be committed to a psychiatric facility. If not, he faces two mandatory life prison terms.
No trial date has been set.
Police were called to the home around 5:15 a.m., where the dead couple was discovered. Police found the bodies in the bedroom, covered in blankets, with apparent gunshot wounds to the head, the criminal complaint states.
According to their obituary, David and Jan Metzig were third-generation owners of Union Star Cheese Factory near Fremont.
