Ken Juedes Death And Tragic Story: What Really Happened?

Ken Juedes was a wealthy farmer and pharmacist at Memorial Health Care in Medford. Despite dedicating his life to helping people, his life was tragically cut short in 2006 in one of the world's worst cold cases. But what happened?

A couple of years after the murder of Ken Juedes, the authorities hadn’t arrested anyone. The person of interest they identified indicated that they weren’t focusing on the right person. Eventually, they filled in the missing parts of the puzzle before making the arrest.

Ken Juedes’ profile summary

Who was Ken Juedes?

He was born on March 20, 1948, and raised in Rothschild. He attended DC Everest High School before joining UW Madison, where he graduated in 1972 with a degree in pharmacology.

In 2004, he married Cindy Schulz Juedes in Las Vegas, but two years later, the duo relocated to a 30-acre farmland in Hull, Wisconsin. The couple co-owned Monster Hall Raceway and Campground.

Even though life appeared glamorous in the eyes of the world, this wasn't the case behind the scenes. According to Oxygen, Ken's wife had accumulated roughly $75,000 in credit card debt within a year of marriage. The financial distress created tension between the couple.

What happened at Dill Creek Farm?

Wausau Daily Herald reports that Ken Juedes was found dead in his western Marathon County town of Hull home at around 8:20 am on August 30 2006. He was found dead on his bed, unclothed, and with bullet wounds to his chest.

Dateline released a show titled, Dateline: The Trouble at Dill Creek Farm detailing the shocking ordeal at Ken Juedes' Wisconsin home.

Who killed Ken Juedes?

Ken's wife, Cindy, was the main suspect. However, she denied the allegations. Cindy alleged that she returned to the house in the morning after sleeping in a nearby trailer. Her story was:

• Even though she had the dog barking, she did not hear any gunshots
• She found clues her husband wasn't at work and thus searched for more clues
• She checked their bedroom after walking through most of the house
• She called 911 in the neighbour’s house because her phone was not working
• She never sought help for her wounded spouse
• She left home and went to a friend's house
• She never at any point checked on his condition
• Her shotgun went missing after the murder

During the initial investigation and re-investigation of the case, no direct evidence tied Cindy to the crime. Nothing turned up, even with the new DNA testing technique. In addition, the shotgun used to kill Ken was never recovered.

However, the analysis of her 911 call revealed behaviour similar to that of suspects found guilty of their crimes. For instance, Cindy was focused on setting up an alibi and describing the scene instead of asking for help.

Her defence team argued that no evidence confirmed her presence at the crime scene, and the unlocked door, surveillance camera being turned off, and Cindy sleeping in a camper were mere coincidences.

Was Cindy Juedes guilty of murder?

A jury found Cindy guilty of first-degree intentional murder. At the beginning of 2007, Ken’s wife offered $25,000 as a reward to anyone with information on Ken’s murder.

Similarly, his family had an additional $20,000 reward on the same. The case went cold for over four years until a handwriting expert discovered that Ken's signature on his will was likely forged.

However, after a series of investigations, Cindy was found guilty of murder and obstructing a police officer. She was charged over 13 years after Ken’s death and was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Why did Cindy Juedes kill her husband?

Police pointed to money as the motive in Ken’s murder. They alleged that Cindy killed Ken to collect more than $1 million worth of his estate and several life insurances.

Shortly after Ken’s death, authorities discovered insurance policies worth $950,000 and a will that named Cindy as the sole beneficiary of her husband’s estate. This included an 80-acre property in Norrie town.

The will raised the alarm as the witness and attorney named on it denied any involvement in its creation. Cindy placed the land on the market 20 days after Ken’s death despite his mother’s plea to return it to the family. The land was sold for $200,000

Where is Cindy Juedes now?

The Wausonian reports that she passed away at Taycheedah Correctional Institution. Cindy died slightly a year after her sentencing for killing Ken. She maintained her innocence even while in prison.

Cindy had begun to appeal the conviction, but the process was terminated when she was found dead in her cell. An inmate was accused of killing Cindy Juedes in July 2023.

Ken Juedes’ fast facts

1. Who was Ken Juedes? He was a wealthy farmer and pharmacist at Memorial Health Care in Medford.
2. How long were Ken and Cindy Juedes married? The duo was married for roughly two years. They tied the knot in 2004, but Ken passed away in 2006.
3. What happened to Ken Juedes? Ken was murdered in his Dill Creek Farmhouse in Wisconsin. He had been shot twice at close range.
4. Where was Ken Juedes' body found? He was found lifeless on his bed, unclothed and with two bullet wounds to his chest.
5. Why did Cindy Juedes kill her husband? Money was the motive behind Ken’s murder. Cindy allegedly killed Ken to collect more than $1 million worth of his estate and several life insurances.
6. Where is Cindy Juedes now? She is dead. She passed away at the Taycheedah Correctional Institution slightly a year after her sentencing for killing Ken.
7. What was Cindy Juedes charged with? She was charged with first-degree intentional murder in the death of her husband and obstructing a police officer.
8. What was Cindy Juedes' sentence? Cindy was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. However, she died a year after serving her sentence.
9. How many children did Ken Juedes have? The pharmacist had three daughters: Jennifer, Sarah, and Rebecca.

Wrapping up

What happened to Ken Juedes? He tragically passed away in 2006 under appalling circumstances. After thorough investigations, his death was ruled a murder after he was found with two gunshot wounds to his chest. The ordeal shook the entire community, leaving many unanswered questions about what transpired on the fateful day.

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Paul Ratliff passed away in December 2021 after a battle with brain cancer. He was a respected psychologist and mental health practitioner. Despite his professional achievements, Paul maintained a relatively low profile, preferring to support his wife from behind the scenes.