KARISSA & BILLY FRETWELL: Oregon vs. Michael Wolfe for murder of mother & their son *GUILTY PLEA*

A man accused of murdering a Salem mother and her toddler son is fighting for the dismissal of an aggravated murder charge — a change that would make him no longer eligible for the death penalty.

On Friday in Yamhill County Circuit Court, attorneys for Michael John Wolfe, 52, argued for dismissing the aggravated murder charge Wolfe faces for allegedly murdering 3-year-old William "Billy" Fretwell, his biological son.

One of the two aggravated murder charges Wolfe initially faced after Karissa Fretwell, 25, and Billy went missing in May was already reduced after a new law drastically narrowing the use of the death penalty went into effect in September.

Michael Wolfe, 52, appears in court as his attorneys argue for dismissing an aggravated murder charge he faces for allegedly murdering 3-year-old William "Billy" Fretwell, his biological son.

Previously, about 20 circumstances made a homicide qualify as aggravated murder, including murder for hire, murdering multiple people, torturing before killing, the murder of a child and murder during the course of a felony crime.

With Senate Bill 1013, Oregon legislators voted to limit these aggravating circumstances to only four:

• Terrorist killings of two or more people
• The premeditated murder of police officers
• Murder committed in a prison or jail by someone who was already convicted of murder
• The premeditated murder of a child under the age of 14

The shift in the charge from aggravated murder to first-degree murder meant Wolfe would not face the death penalty if convicted of murdering Karissa.

But the aggravated murder charge for Billy's death remained in place following the amended indictment in October.

Much more at link: https://www.statesmanjournal.com/st...ly-fights-threat-of-death-penalty/2737327001/

 

[kdg411]

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[GrandmaBear]

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Has that man been put in prison yet? So there isn't anything new since early last year?

I followed this case but hadn't thought of it in awhile. A lot questionable in it.

 

[kdg411]

Has that man been put in prison yet? So there isn't anything new since early last year?

I followed this case but hadn't thought of it in awhile. A lot questionable in it.

Nothing new that I could find. I just wanted to keep these victims in the front of everyones thoughts and prayers. They deserve justice too.

 

[GrandmaBear]

Nothing new that I could find. I just wanted to keep these victims in the front of everyones thoughts and prayers. They deserve justice too.

I feel bad I hadn't thought of it in awhile. It deserves a bump. He is such a YUCK EVIL old lech if you ask me.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

After years of delays, trial set in murder of Salem mom and 3-year-old son

Michael Wolfe is accused of kidnapping and killing Karissa Fretwell, 25, and her 3-year-old son, Billy.

www.statesmanjournal.com

After years of delays, trial set in murder of Salem mom and 3-year-old son
After nearly three years of delays, the trial of a man accused of kidnapping and murdering a Salem woman and her 3-year-old son has been scheduled for summer 2023.

Billy's father, Michael Wolfe, now 54, of Gaston, was arrested and charged with their kidnapping and murders. His trial has been delayed numerous times, primarily due to a technical legal fight over how a new state law impacted the county's ability to seek the death penalty.

Friends and family have expressed frustration at the slow-turning wheels of justice.


Monday's hearing in Yamhill County Circuit Court — the first to take place since December — marked a turning point in the case.

Prosecutors and Wolfe's defense attorneys came to an agreement on a tentative trial date during the half-hour hearing, setting the start of proceedings for June 26, 2023. The trial is slated to last six weeks.

The agreement on the trial date was not without discussion.

Wolfe's attorney, Patrick Sweeney, said the trial would need to wait until next year, pointing to a backlog of cases that had stacked up during the pandemic.

"Our calendars are just filled," Sweeney said. "We're estimating the trial will be six weeks long. Honestly, we don't clear until the summer of 2023."

Sweeney suggested fall of 2023 but state prosecutor Kate Lynch, who requested an "as-soon-as-possible date," agreed to the summer at the request of Fretwell's family. Prosecutors and defense attorneys debated concerns over the challenges of jurors being present for a six to eight-week trial in the middle of the summer.

At one point, Judge Cynthia Easterday brought up the possibility of a settlement conference, a meeting between opposing sides to reach a resolution to the case without having to go to trial.

Both Sweeney and Lynch said they were open to the idea.

 

[GrandmaBear]

This is ridiculous! 2023???? And they wanted fall. And six weeks?? Her family had to ask for the summer which is still over a year away.

You know a new legal law and that argument because of a new law in OR certainly doesn't stop either side from preparing for the murder case in general... What a load of b.s. for an excuse. Imo.

 

[Kimster]

This is ridiculous! 2023???? And they wanted fall. And six weeks?? Her family had to ask for the summer which is still over a year away.

You know a new legal law and that argument because of a new law in OR certainly doesn't stop either side from preparing for the murder case in general... What a load of b.s. for an excuse. Imo.

Oregon’ has really been changing as far as the courts are concerned. And as far as I’m concerned, not for the good at all.

 

[GrandmaBear]

Oregon’ has really been changing as far as the courts are concerned. And as far as I’m concerned, not for the good at all.

Yeah, I learned that just because of this case. I don't remember it all but saw a lot of talk about it. Colorado is another. Both states stand out as far as not moving towards the better but the worse. Colorado far more people are aware of though. Someone should take up this case because it has a lot in it to look at and it was a young mother AND child which seem to get the most interest. Amazing how not known this one is...

 

[Mel70]

View attachment 762

A man accused of murdering a Salem mother and her toddler son is fighting for the dismissal of an aggravated murder charge — a change that would make him no longer eligible for the death penalty.

On Friday in Yamhill County Circuit Court, attorneys for Michael John Wolfe, 52, argued for dismissing the aggravated murder charge Wolfe faces for allegedly murdering 3-year-old William "Billy" Fretwell, his biological son.

One of the two aggravated murder charges Wolfe initially faced after Karissa Fretwell, 25, and Billy went missing in May was already reduced after a new law drastically narrowing the use of the death penalty went into effect in September.

Michael Wolfe, 52, appears in court as his attorneys argue for dismissing an aggravated murder charge he faces for allegedly murdering 3-year-old William "Billy" Fretwell, his biological son.

Previously, about 20 circumstances made a homicide qualify as aggravated murder, including murder for hire, murdering multiple people, torturing before killing, the murder of a child and murder during the course of a felony crime.

With Senate Bill 1013, Oregon legislators voted to limit these aggravating circumstances to only four:

• Terrorist killings of two or more people
• The premeditated murder of police officers
• Murder committed in a prison or jail by someone who was already convicted of murder
• The premeditated murder of a child under the age of 14

The shift in the charge from aggravated murder to first-degree murder meant Wolfe would not face the death penalty if convicted of murdering Karissa.

But the aggravated murder charge for Billy's death remained in place following the amended indictment in October.

Much more at link: Man accused of murdering Karissa Fretwell, son Billy fights threat of death penalty

Yeah make it less likely for these murderers to get the death penalty. Good idea. For murder commited while already in prison though. WTF?!

 

[Mel70]

Yeah, I learned that just because of this case. I don't remember it all but saw a lot of talk about it. Colorado is another. Both states stand out as far as not moving towards the better but the worse. Colorado far more people are aware of though. Someone should take up this case because it has a lot in it to look at and it was a young mother AND child which seem to get the most interest. Amazing how not known this one is...

They do get the most attention. A older woman with no kids, They don't give a dam. It's always "Mother of 2" or "Mother killed" even if it has nothing to do with the crime. Another hypocrisy is she was 25 and the father is 52. If it was the other way around it would be unacceptable.

 

[GrandmaBear]

Yeah make it less likely for these murderers to get the death penalty. Good idea. For murder commited while already in prison though. WTF?!

I'm not even sure how often OR uses it to begin with. Colorado has the death penalty but the governor put a stay on executions some time ago (yrs.) if I have it correct and it will likely be abolished and it has no "teeth" now anyhow.

But to this case, there is or seems to be a whole corrupt bunch of sh*t around this man and sh*t in that area... And to me his wife is even questionable...

 

[Mel70]

I'm not even sure how often OR uses it to begin with. Colorado has the death penalty but the governor put a stay on executions some time ago (yrs.) if I have it correct and it will likely be abolished and it has no "teeth" now anyhow.

But to this case, there is or seems to be a whole corrupt bunch of sh*t around this man and sh*t in that area... And to me his wife is even questionable...

Chris Watts needs it. He's constantly opening his mouth showing he isn't focused on what he did, But entirely on himself.

 

[GrandmaBear]

Chris Watts needs it. He's constantly opening his mouth showing he isn't focused on what he did, But entirely on himself.

That man, his parents and even SM and certain YTers do nothing more than cause her family more continual pain. He needs to be SHUT up. I REFUSE to watch anything about him as it just gives "views" to those who keep using it to get views.

If there was ever a Colorado case where the death penalty should have been applied, that ONE definitely is one. He is housed in WI as you likely know... I think he wasn't quite safe in Colorado. Oh POOR Chris.

 

[Mel70]

That man, his parents and even SM and certain YTers do nothing more than cause her family more continual pain. He needs to be SHUT up. I REFUSE to watch anything about him as it just gives "views" to those who keep using it to get views.

If there was ever a Colorado case where the death penalty should have been applied, that ONE definitely is one. He is housed in WI as you likely know... I think he wasn't quite safe in Colorado. Oh POOR Chris.

I don't watch that crap either. It's from news.

 

[GrandmaBear]

I don't watch that crap either. It's from news.

I don't care if it is on the news either. They put up what they think viewers will want to listen for or to. It is just like Scott Peterson, unless CW filed an appeal or something is being overturned (real news), his name shouldn't be on the news nor anything he says. Like school killers, etc. FORGET their name. They deserve no attention whatsoEVER imo. The names in that case are Shanann, Bella, Cece and Nico. And as far as I'm concerned their last name is Rzucek. That other nameless family and their son doesn't deserve to claim any of them as theirs.

Jmo.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

DA anticipates plea change from Oregon man accused of killing 3-year-old son, child’s mother

A change of plea is anticipated in the case of an Oregon man accused of murdering his 3-year-old son and his child’s mother in 2019, the Yamhill district attorney confirmed.

www.koin.com

DA anticipates plea change from Oregon man accused of killing 3-year-old son, child’s mother​

A change of plea is anticipated in the case of an Oregon man accused of murdering his 3-year-old son and his child’s mother in 2019, the Yamhill district attorney confirmed.

“We anticipate a change of plea on Friday. I’m reluctant to get into details as the defendant continues to have options available to him,” Brad Berry told KOIN 6 News in an emailed statement.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Michael Wolfe pleads guilty to Fretwell murders, will not face death penalty

Michael Wolfe, who was arrested for the deaths of his young son and the boy’s mother in Yamhill County in 2019, has accepted a plea deal.

www.kptv.com

Michael Wolfe pleads guilty to Fretwell murders, will not face death penalty​

Michael Wolfe, who was arrested for the deaths of his young son and the boy’s mother in Yamhill County in 2019, has accepted a plea deal.

Wolfe pled guilty Friday to one count of aggravated murder and one count of second-degree murder in the deaths of 3-year-old Billy Fretwell and 25-year-old Karissa Fretwell. As part of his plea deal, Wolfe will not face the death penalty.

Yamhill County Court said both charges carry a sentence of life. The charge of aggravated murder has a possibility of parole after 30 years, while the second-degree murder charge has a possibility of parole after 25 years.

Wolfe is scheduled to be sentenced on July 20, according to Yamhill County Court.

 

[Kimster]

Michael Wolfe pleads guilty to Fretwell murders, will not face death penalty

Michael Wolfe, who was arrested for the deaths of his young son and the boy’s mother in Yamhill County in 2019, has accepted a plea deal.

www.kptv.com

Michael Wolfe pleads guilty to Fretwell murders, will not face death penalty​

Michael Wolfe, who was arrested for the deaths of his young son and the boy’s mother in Yamhill County in 2019, has accepted a plea deal.

Wolfe pled guilty Friday to one count of aggravated murder and one count of second-degree murder in the deaths of 3-year-old Billy Fretwell and 25-year-old Karissa Fretwell. As part of his plea deal, Wolfe will not face the death penalty.

Yamhill County Court said both charges carry a sentence of life. The charge of aggravated murder has a possibility of parole after 30 years, while the second-degree murder charge has a possibility of parole after 25 years.

Wolfe is scheduled to be sentenced on July 20, according to Yamhill County Court.

Well good. He saved the taxpayers in our state a lot of money and he wouldn’t have been subject to the death penalty around here anyway.

 

[GrandmaBear]

Well good. He saved the taxpayers in our state a lot of money and he wouldn’t have been subject to the death penalty around here anyway.

Better be consecutive sentences. I'd almost bet they aren't or won't be. This was a double murder and they dam*ed wells should be with NO chance of parole. Imo.

 

[Kimster]

Better be consecutive sentences. I'd almost bet they aren't or won't be. This was a double murder and they dam*ed wells should be with NO chance of parole. Imo.

They’ve been lightening up sentences in Oregon like you wouldn’t believe. People are afraid they’re gonna let Kip Kinkle and Diane Downs back out soon.