CRIME

Marathon County case advances against Wisconsin Rapids man accused of ordering 'hit' on Marshfield man

Wausau Daily Herald

WAUSAU – A Wisconsin Rapids man will continue to face charges after police say he confessed to paying $5,000 to order the murder of another man who stole drugs from him.

Steven A. Crandall, 24, of Wisconsin Rapids, is charged with being a party to the crime of first-degree intentional homicide in connection with the December 2020 death of Christopher Schauer of Marshfield.

A 21-year-old Marathon County man has already pleaded guilty and been convicted of killing Schauer; a woman pleaded guilty and has been convicted and sent to prison for helping hide the body; and another man, the father of the killer, is awaiting trial on charges that he helped cover up the murder.

Marathon County Circuit Judge Scott Corbett listened to testimony from a Marathon County detective Tuesday and ordered the case against Crandall to continue. Crandall's next appearance is scheduled for July 26. He's being held in the Wood County Jail on unrelated charges.

According to the criminal complaint, Crandall contacted Wood County investigators after news of Schauer's death became public and asked to speak to Marathon County detectives. Crandall told the detectives he didn't kill Schauer but played a major role in his death, according to the complaint.

Crandall said Schauer had been stealing from his illicit drug business in late November or early December 2020, taking Xanax and Percocet pills from his dealers, according to the complaint. Crandall said a friend took him to Chicago to make the arrangements and he agreed to pay $5,000 for the "hit."

On the afternoon of Dec. 29, 2020, a fur trapper found Schauer's body in the McMillan Marsh Wildlife Area, in the Marathon County town of Spencer. He had been shot dead.

Police arrested Shawn R. Carl, 51, and his son, Jared R. Carl, 21, both of Eau Pleine, after a witness told police that Shawn Carl was trying to sell a car identical to Schauer's missing vehicle, according to the complaint. Police found the missing car on the Carls' Eau Pleine property.

Audrey R. Benson, 21, of Marshfield, told detectives she and Schauer had gone to Chicago the weekend before his death and that when they came back, Jared Carl told her he'd been paid to "beat up" Schauer.

The following day, Dec. 29, 2020, Benson, Jared Carl and Schauer went for a ride in Schauer's car to smoke marijuana. They drove to the McMillan Marsh Wildlife Area and Jared Carl shot Schauer. Benson said she had walked into the woods to go to the bathroom and didn't know what Jared Carl was going to do, but the evidence at the crime scene didn't match her story, according to the complaint.

Schawn Carl then helped his son and Benson hide Schauer's car, according to the complaint.

Jared Carl said he took pictures of Schauer's body and sent them to a friend. Crandall said he saw pictures of Schauer's body to verify his death prior to paying the $5,000, according to the complaint.

Portage County Circuit Judge Suzanne O'Neill sentenced Benson May 3 to four years in prison and three years of extended supervision for being a party to the crime of hiding a corpse.

Jared Carl is scheduled to be sentenced July 25 for a charge of first-degree intentional homicide. He faces a maximum sentence of life in prison without the possibility of release.

Shawn Carl is scheduled for a one-week trial in February for charges of aiding a felon, obstructing an officer, machine gun possession, possessing a firearm silencer and being a party to the crime of theft.

Contact Karen Madden at 715-345-2245 or kmadden@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter at @KMadden715, Instagram at @kmadden715 or Facebook at facebook.com/karen.madden.33.