A lifetime in prison is a possibility for the Pardeeville suspect in the early-morning stabbing death Tuesday of Montello resident Thomas Kratz.

James J. "Cyclops" Henke, 46, of Pardeeville, made his initial appearance this afternoon before Judge Alan J. White of Columbia County Circuit Court.

Kratz, 43, of Montello, died in the early morning hours Tuesday of a single stab wound from a large knife after a fight that was motivated by a relationship triangle among Kratz, Henke and Laurie Renwick, 44, of Montello, according to the Columbia CountySheriff's Department.

Henke is charged with first-degree intentional homicide, a charge that carries a possible maximum penalty of life in prison.

He is also charged with felony strangulation and suffocation as domestic abuse, felony false imprisonment as domestic abuse, and five misdemeanor charges: domestic disorderly conduct, domestic battery, obstructing an officer, and two counts of possession of a switchblade knife. The charges carry a combined maximum initial penalty of nine years and three months in prison.

Citing a consideration of the violent nature of Kratz's death, along with what White referred to as Henke's "anti-legal posture," White ordered Henke held on $175,000 cash bail.

District Attorney Jane Kohlwey requested a high cash bail for Henke, citing him as "rapidly more aggressive and more dangerous" in the past week and declaring him a high risk to flee because of the possible life prison sentence. Kohlwey also said Henke was convicted in 1988 in Manitowoc County of second-degree and third-degree child sexual assault.

On behalf of Henke, Wisconsin State Public Defender Elizabeth Mitchel cited Kratz's criminal history and said that it is possible that Henke was defending himself when the stabbing occurred. She also said the case against Henke suffers from factual issues.

Kratz died after suffering a 6- to 7-inch stab wound through his chest, lungs, diaphragm and liver that caused bleeding into the cavity around his lungs and in his abdomen. He was alert and conscious when he was taken to Divine Savior Healthcare for treatment and spoke to deputies shortly before he died. The criminal complaint filed Thursday in Columbia County Circuit Court details statements made to authorities by Kratz, Renwick and Henke:

Henke:

• Henke told authorities that he and Renwick returned Friday to his apartment after drinking at a Pardeeville bar when they argued about their relationship. Henke said that Renwick wanted to leave but that he thought she was too drunk so he blocked the door. He said that he did not take her phone from her and that he thought their relationship was fine following the incident.

• Henke at first told deputies that Renwick and Kratz had gone to his apartment in Pardeeville and told him come outside and that Kratz had threatened to kill or beat up Henke.

• Henke later said he received a phone call early Tuesday morning from Renwick after he returned home from drinking at a Pardeeville bar but that Kratz took Renwick's phone during the call and threatened to beat Henke. Henke said he waited outside for Renwick and Kratz to arrive in Pardeeville and that Kratz was holding a pipe when he left his truck after arriving.

• Henke initially denied using any weapon against Kratz but later said he brought a "Mexican twist knife" - a long-bladed, curved knife - from his knife collection to the fight.

• Henke said that during the fight, Kratz hit him three times in the ribs and he hit Kratz with his fist and disarmed Kratz. Henke said he then threw the knife at Kratz and heard a "thud" when the knife hit Kratz; after Kratz was stabbed, Kratz hit Henke two more times with the pipe. Henke said he then put Kratz in a "arm bar" hold until Kratz pleaded with Henke to stop and asked to talk things out. Henke said he then released him.

• Henke said he realized he had made a mistake when he saw blood on Kratz's shirt and on the knife. Henke repeatedly said he didn't intend to hit Kratz with the knife and he had thrown the knife during the fight to get it out of the way. Henke said he did not want to hurt Kratz and was only defending himself.

• Henke refused medical treatment but told authorities that he thought he had suffered broken ribs.

Kratz:

• Kratz told deputies that Henke had stabbed him but that he didn't feel being stabbed.

• Kratz denied hitting Henke with a pipe.

Renwick:

• A witness to the fight, Laurie Renwick, 44, of Montello, told authorities that she and Henke dated on and off since October and sometimes lived together.

• Renwick said she visited Henke in his Pardeeville apartment Friday, when he picked her up and threw her across the kitchen, grabbed her by the throat and began choking her with a necklace. When she tried to leave, Henke prevented her by blocking the door and took her cell phone from her, she said. Renwick also said she suffered bruises and injuries from the incident.

• Renwick said she and Kratz went to Pardeeville for a drink early Tuesday morning and that Henke and Kratz began to fight as she and Kratz left a bar. Renwick said she saw Henke hold a knife, raise it above his head and move it down in a stabbing motion during the fight, but she said she did not see Henke stab Kratz. She also said she did not see a pipe.

• Renwick told authorities she tried to stop Kratz's bleeding with her shirt. He told her, "I'm losing consciousness," and collapsed, she said.

Authorities on Tuesday discovered the knife on the roof of Henke's apartment building. Kohlwey would not say if authorities found a pipe. Authorities also found knives and swords along with two spring-loaded, button-activated switchblades in Henke's apartment.

Henke is scheduled for a pre-trial conference July 31.

sgreen@capitalnewspapers.com

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