Case File 003: Beneath the Ashes

Some Stories Never Leave a Town 

There are moments that change a place. Not with sirens or crowds, but with a silence that lingers. The kind of silence that makes its way into living rooms, church pews, and back booths at diners.

The 2013 murder of Brian Helgeson in Hixton, Wisconsin, was one of those moments. It shocked the community, not only because of the brutality, but because it came from within. It came from a son.

Lars Helgeson was twenty years old when he pulled the trigger. He shot his father four times. Then he burned the body, wrapped it in a shower curtain, and buried it in a jump on the family’s motor cross trail. For a while, people just thought Brian had gone missing. Then came the confession.

What Really Happened on Green Acres Road

In his interview with investigators, Lars painted a picture of isolation and torment. He said he felt imprisoned in the home they shared on Green Acres Road. Every day brought more conflict. Every argument chipped away at his sense of control. He told police he could not take it anymore. So he waited until the right moment and followed his father outside.

Lars used a .22 caliber rifle to shoot Brian in the hand, the back, and twice in the head. Afterward, he doused the scene with gasoline and lit it on fire. He attempted to cover his tracks, then buried his father’s remains on the property.

At first, Lars told friends his dad had left for Florida. Eventually, the truth slipped out. One friend told police that Lars said the gods wanted his father gone. Another remembered Lars panicking when people came to the house, telling everyone to crawl on the floor and stay hidden.

Brian’s body was discovered on September 25. Days later, Lars appeared in court via video. He was charged with first-degree intentional homicide, hiding a corpse, and operating a vehicle without the owner’s consent. His bond was denied.

When the Truth Is More Complicated

As the community tried to make sense of what happened, more information came to light. Lars had a cognitive disability. When he graduated from high school, he was functioning at the academic level of a third grader. He also had schizophrenia that had never been properly diagnosed or treated while he was living at home.

That context does not excuse what happened. But it does challenge us to think more deeply.

This was not just a murder. It was a breaking point. It was a collapse of mental health, family support, and the social safety nets that are supposed to catch people before they fall.

In 2017, Lars was found not guilty by reason of mental disease. He was committed to Mendota Mental Health Institute for institutional care and treatment. Some people felt relief. Others were left with questions. But most of us understood that this story was never going to have a simple ending.

The Day the Court Said He Could Leave

In July 2022, he petitioned the court for early release and in December 2022, Judge Mark Goodman ruled that Lars Helgeson was no longer a danger to society and May 2023, Goodman approved a plan for his release for placement in Juneau County. After years of treatment and professional evaluations, the court granted him conditional release into a supervised setting. The release came with strict conditions, including limited contact with victims' families and ongoing mental health oversight.Judge Mark Goodman ruled that Lars Helgeson was no longer a danger to society. After years of treatment and professional evaluations, the court granted him conditional release into a supervised setting. The release came with strict conditions, including limited contact with victims' families and ongoing mental health oversight.

The community's reaction was immediate and emotional. Some felt that justice had run its course. Others were uneasy or outright angry. How do you reconcile safety with rehabilitation? How do you welcome someone back when the wound is still fresh?

We talked about it at gas stations and high school games. Some conversations were heavy with fear. Others were thoughtful and measured. But they all came from the same place—concern, confusion, and the need for answers.

What the Helgeson Case Reveals About Us

Lars did not grow up in some faraway place. His life unfolded right here in our backyard. On roads we drive every day. In woods we know by name. There were signs that something was wrong, but like so many families dealing with mental illness, the Helgesons were left to figure it out on their own.

This case forces us to look inward. Do we have the mental health resources we need in Jackson County? Are our schools and health providers equipped to notice the red flags? Are we creating space for people to speak openly about abuse and mental illness, or are we still pushing those conversations behind closed doors?

We cannot undo what happened. But we can choose what we do next.

So Where Do We Go From Here?

Lars Helgeson now lives in a community setting under strict supervision. His freedom is not absolute. It is monitored, conditional, and subject to change. Whether we agree with the court’s decision or not, the legal process ran its course.

But the work of healing belongs to all of us. That work includes checking on our neighbors. Listening for quiet signs of distress. Creating systems that intervene before tragedy does.

This is not just a story about one man. It is a story about what can happen when pain goes unheard for too long.

Let’s Keep Talking

The Helgeson case may not lead every newscast anymore, but it still echoes in Jackson County. It is the kind of story that reminds us how thin the line can be between silence and crisis.

So what do you think? Was the court’s decision fair? Can someone find redemption after tragedy? What does justice look like in a case like this?

We would love to hear your thoughts.

Subscribe to From the Vault to stay connected to the stories that shape us. Because remembering is part of healing. And healing begins with telling the truth—even when it is uncomfortable.

—The Jackson County Pulse Team

References

End Domestic Abuse Wisconsin. (2018). 2013 Wisconsin domestic violence homicide report. https://www.endabusewi.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/2013_wisconsin_domestic_violence_homicide_report.pdf

Fox 11 News. (n.d.). Insanity plea accepted in Wisconsin homicide case. https://fox11online.com/news/state/insanity-please-accepted-in-wisconsin-homicide-case

Leader-Telegram. (n.d.). Insanity, not guilty deal reached in Jackson County family homicide. https://www.leadertelegram.com/news/front-page/insanity-not-guilty-deal-reached-in-jackson-county-family-homicide/article_ad25f373-69cd-5ba5-8c12-a970647308c6.html

News 8000. (n.d.-a). Homicide, hiding corpse charges filed in Brian Helgeson’s death. https://www.news8000.com/news/local-news/homicide-hiding-corpse-charges-filed-in-brian-helgeson-s-death/article_f70f0707-f0d8-5158-beb4-1c7d34582554.html

News 8000. (n.d.-b). Jackson County man institutionalized after killing his father files petition for release. https://www.news8000.com/news/crime/jackson-county-man-institutionalized-after-killing-his-father-files-petition-for-release/article_eedfdd55-5b4e-5b37-a1a4-267ca2569b51.html

State of Wisconsin Circuit Court Access. (n.d.). State of Wisconsin vs. Lars E Helgeson. https://wcca.wicourts.gov/caseDetail.html?caseNo=2013CF000168&countyNo=27&index=0&mode=details

WEAU Staff. (2023, May 23). Judge observes and approves Lars Helgeson’s plan for release to live in Juneau County. https://www.weau.com/2023/05/23/judge-observes-approves-lars-helgesons-plan-release-live-juneau-county/

WIZM News. (2022, November 3). Jackson County man who killed his father in 2013 is back in court seeking release from hospital. https://www.wizmnews.com/2022/11/03/jackson-county-man-who-killed-his-father-in-2013-is-back-in-court-seeking-release-from-hospital/

Wisconsin Homicide. (n.d.). Trial set for man accused of killing father. https://wi-homicide.com/content/trial-set-man-accused-killing-father