Wisconsin

Wisconsin pair charged in alleged plot to stalk, poison and kill dating app liaisons

Published

9 months ago

June 21, 2025

Wisconsin pair charged in alleged plot to stalk, poison and kill dating app liaisons

A Wisconsin boyfriend and girlfriend who have been charged with attempted murder are accused of trying to poison two women the man previously dated after he met them online, authorities said.

Paul VanDuyne Jr., 43, and Andrea Whitaker, 41, have each been charged with attempted murder, aggravated battery, recklessly endangering the public and stalking, according to criminal cases filed in the Madison region.

On Friday, they appeared in court separately in Janesville, in Dane County, which also is home to the state capital. Bail was set at $10 million for VanDuyne, who prosecutors said has access to substantial resources, and $4 million for Whitaker.

Pleas were not entered, and each remained in custody, according to jail records. The defendants have separate lawyers, who did not respond immediately to requests for comment.

One of the two victims — each of whom met VanDuyne on a dating app and saw him only a few times — described an experience discovering a stranger she later realized was Whitaker crouched next to her vehicle in her garage in April.

The woman is identified in redacted court records as the victim from Dane County; the other woman is identified as the victim from Rock County. The Dane County woman said Friday in court that she met VanDuyne more than a year ago, went on two dates with him and told him she was not interested in seeing him again.

“I was never his girlfriend, yet he and Andrea developed the delusion that I was,” she said in court Friday. “This delusion was so strong, they tried to murder me. Their actions and motivations are disconnected from reality. Both have shown their capacity for evil.”

Appearing at VanDuyne’s hearing, the woman said that after she discovered the allegations against the couple, she has people stay with her overnight, she installed a security system, and she hides her vehicle.

“I need the court’s protection,” she said. “The community needs the court’s protection.”

Prosecutors said VanDuyne met Whitaker online roughly during the time he dated the victims and carried on a relationship virtually as she took courses in the field of pharmacology away from the area.

Upon completing her courses, she moved nearby, and the two met in person in the spring, according to narratives presented in case documents.

VanDuyne graduated from Princeton University more than 20 years previously, the institution confirmed. He had a career as a mechanical engineer, his lawyer said in court Friday. Documents in the Rock County case say he was recently divorced and started dating the victims after having met them on dating apps or sites that were not named.

When he connected with Whitaker, the two embarked on a plot against the victims, prosecutors said.

The victim from Rock County came to the attention of authorities in early May when a doctor from the Wisconsin Poison Center reported that a woman was hospitalized with thallium in her system, the court documents say.

Thallium was once commonly used to kill rodents. Largely because of accidental poisonings, it has been banned from household use in the United States since 1965 and commercially since 1975.

The doctor, identified only by a last name, is quoted as saying, “The only way a human could have this amount of thallium in her system is if they were intentionally consuming it.”

Prosecutors said the victim reported no suicidal action and struggled to think of anyone who would try to poison her — the names she came up with were vetted — until VanDuyne came to mind, according to the documents from Rock County.

She told detectives about texts she had received in early 2025 from the man she knew only as Paul when they dated starting nearly two years before, the documents say.

She gave investigators VanDuyne’s number, and they started looking at him this month, according to the court documents.

She said he had sent her texts in the spring after months of no contact. In them, the Rock County victim said, he called her “evil” and blamed her for causing his girlfriend, Whitaker, to kill herself when she discovered their dating history, the documents say.

Whitaker did not kill herself.

In fact, court documents allege, she was integral to the plot to kill the two other women VanDuyne had dated, and they worked together to taint water bottles and vehicles with poisons they procured or, in one case, made from scratch.

In the May incident that sent the Rock County victim to the hospital, the woman took her middle-school-age sister to the movies but both became ill, according to the documents. The victim took her vehicle to a dealership, where workers reported a noxious smell and tossed out a storage tote they said contained an unknown substance, the documents say.

Because the woman and her sister described a smell of rotten eggs, detectives concluded the substance was hydrogen sulfide, a toxic gas.

Rock County Sheriff Curtis Fell said the Rock County victim was still in a wheelchair as a result of her poisoning. Without the medical care she has received — including an antidote flown overnight from California — she most likely would have died, he said.

The alleged plot affected the other victim, the woman from Dane County, not long afterward, in mid-May, when bystanders reported someone breaking into her vehicle at a Costco parking lot on two separate occasions, according to the documents.

A witness at the Costco parking lot reported seeing a man get into a Chrysler Pacifica minivan that was traced back to VanDuyne, authorities said in the documents.

After one of the incidents, the victim reported drinking bottled water she left in her vehicle and noticing it tasted terrible, the court documents say. The water tested positive for cyanide and thallium.

After they realized the two women may have been the victims of the same perpetrators, authorities took a second look at the Rock County victim’s vehicle and concluded it was the subject of break-ins or attempts with markings similar to those made in the Costco attempts, the documents say.

Detectives got a judge’s permission to track VanDuyne’s movements and found him traveling to the Rock County victim’s residence, according to the documents. After that trip, they allege, authorities found a trail camera hung on a tree across from the victim’s home.

In other instances, the couple worked together to use cyanide, thallium and abrin in multiple attempts to poison the victims, once even putting a powdery substance in the ventilation system of a victim’s vehicle, authorities said in the court documents.

Abrin can be made by grinding the seeds of rosary peas, authorities said in the documents.

On Thursday, a search of VanDuyne’s minivan turned up a tan bag with multiple vials inside, the court documents say. Authorities found rosary peas in the bag and a seed grinder at his home, the documents say.

An FBI hazardous materials team was called to help with the search, and members took an active part multiple times, the documents say.

The defendants were expected to appear in Rock County court next week to face charges of attempted murder and stalking for VanDuyne and attempted murder and aiding a felon for Whitaker.

VanDuyne is due in Dane County court again Aug. 4. Whitaker is scheduled for an appearance there July 2.

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Wisconsin

Judge panel dismisses lawsuit seeking to redraw Wisconsin’s congressional maps

Published

6 hours ago

March 31, 2026

Press Room

Judge panel dismisses lawsuit seeking to redraw Wisconsin’s congressional maps

article

Wisconsin Congressional Districts (2025)

MADISON, Wis. – A three-judge panel in Wisconsin on Tuesday dismissed a lawsuit brought by Democratic voters that sought to redraw the battleground state’s Republican-friendly congressional boundary lines ahead of the November midterm election.

The decision can be appealed to the liberal-controlled Wisconsin Supreme Court, but it’s unclear whether it could rule in time to affect the election this year. There is a second lawsuit pending that also seeks to redraw the state’s congressional districts, but it isn’t slated to go to trial until April 2027.

Both lawsuits were filed as President Donald Trump wages a national redistricting battle in an effort to preserve the Republicans’ slim House majority in November.

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Judge panel’s decision

What they’re saying:

The three-judge panel said in its ruling that it has “no basis to find the current congressional map invalid.” The case must be dismissed, the judges said, because only the Wisconsin Supreme Court can determine whether the maps should be redrawn.

But in dismissing the lawsuit, the panel made clear that it was “not endorsing the current congressional map.”

“Rather, we, as circuit court judges, do not have the authority to read into a Wisconsin Supreme Court case an analysis that it does not contain,” the judges ruled.

Wisconsin Capitol, Madison

However, the judges said they “stand ready” to engage in any fact-finding the state Supreme Court might order later.

Republicans praised the ruling.

“This is a significant win for Republicans and a yet another blow to desperate Democrats who wanted to reshape the electoral landscape,” said Zach Bannon, spokesperson for the National Republican Congressional Committee. “By keeping Wisconsin’s current district lines in place for 2026, Republicans are in a strong position to build on our momentum to retain and grow our House majority.”

Lawsuit over maps

The backstory:

The Wisconsin Supreme Court in November ordered that the redistricting cases be first heard by the three-judge panel over objections from Republicans. It marked the first time that process has been used under a 2011 law enacted by Republicans.

The lawsuit that was dismissed argued that the current maps discriminate against Democrats. They do so by packing a substantial number of Democrats into two districts while breaking up other Democratic areas into six Republican-favorable districts, the lawsuit argued. They also argued that the Wisconsin Supreme Court violated the constitutional separation of powers provision when adopting the most recent map.

In 2010, the year before Republicans redrew the congressional maps, Democrats held five seats compared with three for Republicans. Republicans hold six of the state’s eight House seats, but only two are considered competitive.

The current congressional maps, which were based on the ones drawn in 2010, were approved by the state Supreme Court when it was controlled by conservative judges. The U.S. Supreme Court in March 2022 declined to block the maps from taking effect.

Election outlook

Big picture view:

A top target for Democrats is the western Wisconsin seat held by Republican Rep. Derrick Van Orden, a vocal Trump supporter. He won in 2022 after longtime Democratic Rep. Ron Kind retired. Van Orden won reelection in the 3rd District in 2024.

The other seat Democrats hope to make more competitive is southeastern Wisconsin’s 1st District, which Republican Rep. Bryan Steil has held since 2019. The latest maps made that district more competitive while still favoring Republicans.

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What’s next:

The dismissed lawsuit was brought on behalf of 11 voters by Elias Law Group. Attorneys with the liberal law firm did not immediately reply to a message seeking comment. Attorneys for Wisconsin’s six Republican members of Congress who sought the dismissal had no immediate comment.

The lawsuit scheduled to go to trial next year was brought by a bipartisan coalition of business leaders. There is also a pending motion to dismiss that case.

The Wisconsin Business Leaders for Democracy argues in its lawsuit that Wisconsin’s congressional maps are unconstitutional because they are an anti-competitive gerrymander. The lawsuit notes that the median margin of victory for candidates in the eight districts since the maps were enacted is close to 30 percentage points.

The Source: The Associated Press provided this report.

ElectionNewsWisconsin

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Wisconsin

Kids fishing clinics part of spring tradition in southeastern Wisconsin

Published

18 hours ago

March 31, 2026

Press Room

Kids fishing clinics part of spring tradition in southeastern Wisconsin

As part of a spring tradition in southeastern Wisconsin, free learn-to-fish clinics for youth will be held April 18 at eight public sites in Milwaukee and Washington counties.

The events, offered free for children ages 15 and under, are staffed by members of local fishing clubs and presented by the Milwaukee and Washington county parks departments, the Department of Natural Resources, the Wisconsin Council of Sport Fishing Organizations and the Hunger Task Force Fish Hatchery.

All children must be accompanied by an adult.

Additional free clinics will be held in similar formats April 25 and June 27 at private clubs in Waukesha County.

The programs are part of campaign started about 40 years ago to get Wisconsin youth outdoors and teach fishing basics.

“These free, family-oriented clinics are designed to introduce beginners to fishing while helping established anglers sharpen their skills ahead of the open water season,” the DNR said in a statement.

The clinics will feature hands-on sessions on knot-tying, water safety, fish identification and fishing techniques as well as casting games, painting and tattoos, according to the DNR.

The lakes, ponds or lagoons at host sites are stocked with panfish or trout before the clinics.

Fishing equipment is available, but participants are encouraged to bring a rod and reel if possible.

No preregistration is required. The instructional sessions typically last about 1 hour and will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on April 18.

Milwaukee County locations hosting clinics are: Brown Deer Park, 7835 N. Green Bay Road; Dineen Park, 6901 W. Vienna St.; Greenfield Park, 2028 S. 124 St.; Kosciuszko Park, 2201 S. 7th St.; McCarty Park, 8214 W. Cleveland Ave.; Mitchell Park, 524 S. Layton Blvd.; Scout Lake Park, 6201 W. Loomis Road; and Sheridan Park, 4800 S. Lake Drive.

And in Washington County, a clinic will be held Saturday at Regner Park, 800 N. Main St., West Bend.

Clinics will occur rain or shine, so participants are encouraged to dress for the weather. Adults are also encouraged to inquire about joining a club to expand their knowledge and help with future clinics.

The clinics are held on formally designated urban waters and are reserved by state statute for youth ages 15 and younger and people with certain disabilities.

Along with DNR staff, members of the following clubs and organizations will provide angling instruction at the clinics: Okauchee Fishing Club; Inner City Sportsmen Club; Milwaukee Great Lakes Sports Fishermen; Southside Sportsmen’s Club; Bayview Rod & Gun Club; South Milwaukee 1400 Fishing & Hunting Club; and Walleyes Unlimited.

In addition, two private clubs in Waukesha County will offer free fishing clinics later in spring and summer.

Wern Valley Hunting Preserve and Sporting Clays will hold clinics April 25 at a pond on its grounds. The events will run from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The club is located at S36 W29657 Wern Way, Waukesha.

And on June 27, Daniel Boone Conservation League will hold free fishing clinics at its pond. The clinics will run from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The club is located at 4694 Hwy. 167, Hubertus.

For more information on the Milwaukee or West Bend kid’s fishing clinics, contact Laura Schmidt, DNR fisheries biologist, at Laura.Schmidt@wisconsin.gov or (414) 416-0591. For information on the clinic at Wern Valley in Waukesha, contact Al Shook at arshook56@gmail.com or (414) 218-0774. And for nformation on the clinic at Daniel Boone in Hubertus, contact MarySusan Diedrich at msd55@att.net or (414) 379-3770.

Stamp design contests: The DNR is accepting artwork entries in the design contests for the 2027 Wisconsin wild turkey, ring-necked pheasant and waterfowl stamps.

The contests are held annually and provide Wisconsin artists with an opportunity to showcase their talents, commemorate their work and promote wildlife conservation across the state.

Hunters are required to purchase a species-specific stamp to legally harvest a turkey, pheasant or waterfowl species in Wisconsin. Sales of the three stamps generate hundreds of thousands of dollars annually for species management throughout the state, including habitat management, restoration, education and research projects, according to the DNR.

Stamp design entries for this year’s contests must be received or postmarked by Aug. 1, 2026.

Registration, rules, entry information and reproduction rights agreements are available on the DNR’s Wildlife Stamp Funding and Stamp Design Contest webpage.

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Wisconsin

WATCH: Teen ‘takeover’ turns violent as fights break out, arrests follow chaos at Wisconsin mall | Fox News Video

Published

1 day ago

March 30, 2026

Press Room

WATCH: Teen ‘takeover’ turns violent as fights break out, arrests follow chaos at Wisconsin mall | Fox News Video

Video shows the moment a brawl broke out outside a Kohl’s at the Bayshore Mall during a teen “takeover” event in Glendale, Wisconsin on Sunday, March 29, 2026. (Credit: @milwaukeereports via Storyful)

Video shows the moment a brawl reportedly broke out outside a Kohl’s at the Bayshore Mall during an unsanctioned teen “takeover” event in Glendale, Wisconsin on Sunday, March 29, 2026 . (Credit: @milwaukeereports via Storyful)

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