Southern Minnesota Man Admits to Murdering His Father
Le Center, MN (KROC-AM News) - A southern Minnesota man who murdered his father and then set fire to their home last year has pleaded guilty.
27-year-old Hardy Wills-Traxler recently admitted to a second-degree murder charge through a plea agreement that will result in the dismissal of an arson charge. The judge in the case ordered a pre-sentence investigation and ordered the rural Le Center man to return to Le Sueur County Court for his sentencing hearing on October 18.
Wills-Traxler was arrested in late January of last year after Le Sueur County Deputies responded to a report of a fire at a residence located just northeast of Le Center. 64-year-old Bruce Traxler was found dead at the scene. Hardy Wills-Traxler was later arrested following a traffic stop in Blue Earth County. The criminal complaint says he had made comments about killing his father when he made contact with a snow plow driver and a group of snowmobilers.
The prosecution of the case was delayed after a Le Sueur County Judge ruled him incompetent to stand trial in April of last year. He was committed to a mental health facility for treatment and was deemed competent the face prosecution in October.
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