Karl Hess (Photo courtesy: Wisconsin Department of Corrections)
MANITOWOC, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – An appeals court upheld Karl Hess’ convictions for killing a father and daughter in Manitowoc.
Hess is serving back-to-back life sentences for the 2018 deaths of Richard and Jocelyn Miller.
Hess originally confessed to the murders, saying he needed money and believed there was some in home. The robbery then led to confrontations and the shooting deaths. He later recanted the confession, but was convicted by a jury.
In his appeal, Hess argued his confession shouldn’t have been allowed at trial, his attorney was deficient in not trying to suppress the statements, and his defense was prejudiced by how his attorney handled the confessions.
In a 19-page decision issued Wednesday, the appeals court rejected each argument.
Given the weight of the evidence against him, we conclude Hess was not prejudiced even if his counsel performed deficiently by failing to continue her motion for the suppression of all his statements to police,” the court wrote.
Hess is currently at the Waupun Correctional Institution, court records show.
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