Sypher trial pushed to October
By Patrick Lynn
A Portage Co. judge has ruled prosecutors can use cadaver dog evidence in the Krista Sypher murder trial.
Krista’s husband, 45-year-old Jason Sypher, was arrested on suspicion of murdering the woman and disposing of her body after she went missing in March 2017. Jason Sypher was taken into custody about five miles north of the Illinois border last August. He pleaded not guilty before Judge Thomas Eagon in October.
Defense attorney Gary Kryshak argued detectives had “no body, and no blood” to indicate Krista Sypher, 44, was dead and objected to using evidence at trial uncovered by a K9 handler during a search of the family’s home.
Kryshak questioned the accuracy of the dog’s alerts, which occurred at various places throughout the home and inside Jason Sypher’s truck, saying dog alerts can be unreliable.
The case is being handled by special prosecutor Annie Jay from the Wisconsin Department of Justice and Portage Co. District Attorney Louis Molepske.
With more than 120 witnesses scheduled to testify for prosecutors and the defense, Eagon wanted more time for a trial, which was originally planned to begin in late June.
The new trial is scheduled to begin Oct. 14 and should last about two weeks.
If convicted on the homicide charge, Jason Sypher faces a maximum penalty of life in prison, plus 10 years if convicted of hiding a corpse. He remains behind bars on a $750,000 cash bond.