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Two others charged in death of Preston Decorah
Pictured (L to R): Elijah Benjamin, Tara L. Appleton and Nathaniel D. Reynolds. - Photos provided
Woman charged in death makes an initial appearance Wednesday, March 15.
BURNETT COUNTY - Three individuals now stand charged in the March 30 death of Preston "Kunu" Decorah, 27, of Webster.
Nathaniel D. Reynolds, 30, Webster, and Elijah Benjamin, 21, Webster, each face a fine of $500 and 30 days in jail for not aiding Decorah or reporting Tara L. Appleton, 31, Webster, the woman facing felony charges in Decorah's death.
Reynolds and Benjamin both face the misdemeanor offense of failing to render aid to a victim or report a crime. They are scheduled to appear in Burnett County Circuit Court on Wednesday, May 20.
Appleton is facing charges of first-degree reckless homicide, second-degree reckless homicide, homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle and hit and run involving death. Charges were filed by Burnett County District Attorney James Rennicke on Wednesday, April 8.
Burnett County Judge Melissia Mogen found probable cause March 31 for Appleton’s arrest and set a cash bond at $5,000. Conditions include maintaining absolute sobriety, no use or possession of drugs, alcohol, substances or paraphernalia without a valid prescription. She is subject to random testing of breath, blood or urine by any law enforcement or corrections officer upon arrest or reasonable suspicion. Appleton must be home during curfew hours of 8 p.m. to 8 a.m.
On April 1, two search warrants were also signed by Mogen in this case.
Appleton is scheduled to appear in Burnett County Court on Wednesday, April 15, for an initial appearance.
The Burnett County Sheriff's Department received a call at 9:15 a.m., Monday, March 30, saying Decorah was lying in a driveway in the Hertel area and the caller was unable to wake him. Decorah was taken to Spooner Hospital and then airlifted to Regions Hospital in St. Paul, Minnesota, where he died from injuries.
Reader Comments
Whitey Knight • [email protected]APR 19 • No one else should be blamed when an individual decides to do stupid shit ..
Crystle Bosin • [email protected]
APR 17 • I don't hear of anyone getting fines. What does living on the reservation have to do with it? You sound racists and ignorant. I see plenty of non native names in paper on their multiple owi's who continue to risk lives drinking and driving. This is a terrible thing resulting in a young man's death. How about leaving race and geography out of it. They all have to go to county court, in front of a county judge, with county..state, and federal laws and consequences.
Quarantine much? • [email protected]
APR 16 • No one has said anything about how people should not have been visiting friends, if one of these people had said no we need to be responsible and distance,this would have never happened, there is nothing about charges for not obeying social distancing. They did this to themselves and hope they get max penalties, use this as an example of people being a part of the problem!
• [email protected]
APR 16 • So this happens on a reservation and the responsible parties are let off so lightly...what would be the outcome if it werent on a reservation or if these were white people in the same area? The punishment for wreckless behaviour should match the outcome. What do these 3 say to the deceased family?
Anonymous • [email protected]
APR 16 • They should get more than a 500 dollar fine that’s ridiculous. They left him to die!